Gilgit: The arrest of youth activist Sarfraz Nagri on sedition and anti-state charges sparked widespread protests in Nagar district on Thursday, with demonstrators blocking the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and accusing the government of suppressing dissenting voices.
Sarfraz Nagri was arrested earlier this week after being nominated in a First Information Report (FIR) for allegedly leading a protest on June 21 at Harespo Das, where he is accused of delivering “threatening speeches” and “inciting action against state institutions” while leading a crowd of over 250 people.
The FIR, registered under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, includes Section 123-A (condemnation of the creation of the state), 124-A (sedition), and other provisions related to rioting, criminal intimidation, defamation, and public mischief.
According to police sources, Sarfraz Nagri allegedly used provocative language, obstructed traffic, and “used the common people as a shield” during the protest. Authorities claim his actions posed a threat to public order and the authority of the state.
Following the arrest, hundreds of residents and supporters took to the streets in Iskandar Abad, Nagar, blocking the KKH and demanding his immediate release. The protest caused significant traffic disruption, with vehicles stranded on both sides of the arterial route.
Protesters raised slogans against what they termed “state high-handedness” and condemned the use of sedition laws to stifle voices of opposition. Speaking at the demonstration, several activists and community leaders said Nagri had been “illegally detained” for raising legitimate concerns about the region’s marginalized communities.
“This is not just an arrest, it is an attempt to silence every young person who speaks for justice,” one speaker told the crowd. “We will not accept the criminalisation of activism.”
The situation on the KKH remained tense, with no confirmation on when the road would reopen to regular traffic.
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Wave of Sedition Cases Against Activists
Sarfraz Nagri’s arrest is the latest in a series of similar actions against political and rights activists in Gilgit-Baltistan. Over the past two months, at least 14 members of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) have been imprisoned on comparable charges.
Those detained include AAC Chairman Ahsan Ali Advocate, Finance Secretary Masoodur Rehman, Senior Vice President Mehboob Wali, Youth-Wing Chairman Asghar Shah, and Deputy Information Secretary Sher Nadir Shahi, among others.
Legal experts and human rights organisations have voiced alarm over the increasing use of colonial-era sedition laws to detain protest leaders and curb freedom of expression in the region.
Rights groups argue that the criminalisation of peaceful protest reflects a deeper governance crisis and growing frustration among the local population over longstanding issues of political and economic marginalisation.
Meanwhile, officials have remained tight-lipped, and no formal statement had been issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan administration at the time of reporting.
