Advocate Ehsan Ali released on bail amid protests

Amid widespread protests in Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Pakistan, advocate Ehsan Ali, the detained President of Supreme Court Bar Association and founding leader of Awami Action Committee, was released from jail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Monday.

Accepting Ehsan Advocate's bail application, the ATC Judge, Raja Shahbaz, ordered the release of the lawyer leader whose arrest over sharing of a post on Facebook had triggered national and international outcry.

Awami Workers Party, several leftist groups, and lawyers community of Gilgit-Baltistan had been protesting for the last week against the detention of Advocate Ehsan Ali.

A protest was held at Skardu on February 14 against the illegal detention of Advocate Ehsan Ali. The protest was jointly organised by Baltistan Student Federation (BSF), Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) and Gilgit-Baltistan Youth Alliance (GBYA).

The protesters stated that the allegations are concocted and were registered with the intention of persecuting Ehsan Ali for his political activism.

Advocate Ehsan Ali, who was also the former head of Awami Action Committee (ACC) was arrested on February 12 on the charge of re-sharing an allegedly 'Anti-Religion" post on social media.

He had later removed the post by sharing an apology on social media for 'unintentionally hurting' the sentiments of some people.

The protesters, while paying rich tribute to the leader, expressed that Advocate Ehsan Ali, a promoter of peace and harmony was always a leading voice in the GB region against the constitutional and political deprivations.

He was also role model in bringing people from all sects and walk-of-life together.

Separately, another protest was organised on February 13 in Karachi by the Inqilabi Socialists Karachi (ISK) to pressurise Gilgit Baltistan government to release political prisoners including Baba Jan.

The protesters also demanded to end the repression and human rights abuses in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The protest was attended by Dr Riaz Ahmed and Sartaj Khan of International School of Karachi (ISK), Political and Human Rights activists Ayub Qureshi, Saeed Baloch, Naghma Sheikh and Wahid Baloch.