Karachi, June 22 – An emergency meeting of the Gilgit-Baltistan Youth Alliance, Karachi was held in Nazimabad, Karachi, where representatives of various nationalist parties from Gilgit-Baltistan discussed the ongoing political crisis in the region. The meeting focused on the immediate release of detained leaders of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), the controversial Land Reforms Act, the Minerals and Mining Act, and the broader political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The participants also strongly condemned the recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and unanimously decided to hold a massive protest in Karachi on June 28 (Friday) to press for the following demands:
Key Demands:
- Immediate and unconditional release of all political leaders and activists of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) who have been illegally detained.
- Rejection of the Land Reforms Act and abolition of all colonial-era oppressive laws imposed on Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Opposition to the Minerals and Mining Act, particularly its hidden agenda of facilitating foreign (especially U.S.) interference in the disputed region.
- Complete abolition of illegal colonial laws, including the Schedule-IV and Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which are being used to suppress political dissent in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Condemnation of U.S. and Israeli aggression against Palestine, Iran, and other oppressed nations.
Over the past week, protests have erupted in Hunza, Lahore, and Karachi against the unjust arrests and torture of AAC leaders, including its chairman Advocate Ehsan Ali. The AAC has been leading a movement against land grabbing, illegal mining, and state repression in Gilgit-Baltistan
In Hunza’s Aliabad, protests have continued for three consecutive days, while demonstrations have also been held in Lahore and Karachi. Protesters warn that if the detained leaders are not released immediately, they will expand their protests nationwide, including a major mobilization in Lahore.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Youth Alliance, Karachi has called upon all political and social activists to join the June 28 protest to amplify the voice of Gilgit-Baltistan and resist state oppression and foreign exploitation.
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