It has now been 90 days since the unjust arrests of several leading members of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan (AAC), including Chairman and leading member of the Inqalabi Communist Party, Ehsan Ali.
The Pakistani authorities continue to hold these political prisoners in barbaric conditions despite serious health concerns, acknowledged by both doctors and judges.
In an escalation of the ‘Free Ehsan Ali’ campaign, activists across London took part in the international day of solidarity action, to show the Pakistani state that we will not allow our comrades to be silenced, intimidated, and repressed.
In an energetic display of solidarity, RCP organiser Sean Hodges led chants of ”Hands off the AAC!”, “High Commission, shame, shame! All those crimes are in your name!” and “Free Ehsan Ali!”
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John McDonnell MP, newly-elected Harrow councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick, and RCP spokesperson Fiona Lali attempted to hand in a letter of protest. But the embassy staff refused to take it, hiding behind their doors. Instead, they chose to call in the Metropolitan Police. Despite the fact that this was a peaceful demonstration, armed police turned up!
Predictably, the weather was not cooperative, to say the least. But if the High Commissioner thought that a bit of rain would put us off, they soon learned their mistake!
Despite the conditions, comrades’ spirits were high. We had come determined to shake things up, make our voices heard, and get the news back to the generals in Islamabad that Ehsan Ali has friends all over the world who are prepared to fight for him.
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We let the embassy know exactly what we thought of their cowardice. McDonnell and Fitzpatrick gave fantastic speeches in solidarity with the AAC.
McDonnell, who has this week tabled a motion to be discussed in Parliament to demand the release of AAC activists, rightly stated that “Ehsan has been imprisoned for peacefully protesting, just as we are today!”
Both speakers highlighted with disgust the measures the Pakistani state has taken against the AAC leaders and the total disregard for human rights or legal protections, including the impact this will have on Ehsan Ali’s serious health concerns. The state is, in fact, relishing in this treatment of our comrades, hoping that they will die behind bars.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
Speakers from the RCP exposed all of this in fiery speeches, denouncing the fact that our comrades are being tortured for the so-called ‘crime’ of fighting for flour subsidies for the workers and poor of Pakistan, to yells of “shame!” from those gathered.
As Free Ehsan Ali campaign organiser Joe Attard pointed out, on 7 June, a farcical election will take place for the hated Pakistani government – while the true leaders of the masses are imprisoned.
Comrades Adam and Bella explained the history of the struggle in Gilgit-Baltistan, detailing the pernicious role of British imperialism in the break-up of the region and fostering ethnic divisions – leading directly to the awful conditions that the workers and poor face today.
Fiona Lali linked the historic role of British imperialism with the crucial role that communists and left-wing activists in Britain must play to fight these injustices today.
She explained why the Pakistani state is so terrified of the AAC: their ideas and action unites the working class and poor.
She ended by explaining that the struggle of our comrades in Pakistan is one and the same struggle that we are fighting in Britain, and with workers globally: the fight to overthrow all exploitation and oppression.
The speeches concluded with a rousing address from the Political Secretary of the RCP, Rob Sewell. He described the huge sacrifices the activists of the AAC have made to defend the cause of the workers and poor in Gilgit-Baltistan.
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We continue to take inspiration from their dedicated struggle for basic improvements to their conditions. This week of action won’t be the end. Until Ehsan Ali and all imprisoned AAC activists are freed, we’ll be back again and again – for as long as it takes!
Today, for example, similar protests are taking place outside of embassies in Birmingham and Bradford. And on Saturday, activists in Edinburgh will be demonstrating outside of the Scottish Parliament to raise awareness about the plight of our comrades, and to build support for the campaign.
🚨🗓️ On June 4th we will organise another international day of action to free our comrades in Gilgit-Baltistan. Our last one played a crucial role in getting our comrades released – and with your help, we’ll make this an even bigger success! More info 👉https://t.co/ncz8qAkZ4E pic.twitter.com/uDi3HJXO9i
— Free Ehsan Ali (@FreeEhsanAli) May 12, 2026
Likewise, RCP branches across Britain are gearing up for a ‘Super Saturday’ of paper sales over the weekend, where we will be distributing campaign leaflets and collecting signatures in support of the immediate release of our comrades.
We call upon all of our readers and supporters – as well as anyone who is scandalised by this egregious attack upon the democratic rights of the workers and poor of Pakistan – to get involved in this campaign.
Share our social media material; contact your local Pakistani embassy; raise this campaign in your trade union or student union branch; sign and share our petition, email your MP to ask them to sign the Early Day Motion to free Ehsan Ali; and contact contact@pakistansolidarity.org to find out more information about the campaign.
For more campaign updates and resources, head to pakistansolidarity.org.
