Athens, October 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistani authorities should disclose the grounds for detaining young Shia activists in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), ensure their access to legal counsel, produce them before courts and independently investigate allegations of torture and enforced disappearance, a report by Athens-based Directus has stated.
The report said these were fundamental legal obligations and warned that failure to uphold them could reinforce concerns that the authorities prioritise control over justice.
According to Directus, Pakistan’s treatment of Shia youths in PoGB highlights a contradiction between its national security claims and its responsibility to protect people living under its administration.
“The detention of young activists, allegations of concealed confinement and the deployment of stringent counterterrorism legislation have fuelled fears that security powers are being used to suppress legitimate grievances. Rather than addressing concerns about marginalisation and economic deprivation, the establishment appears increasingly inclined to view dissent through the prism of militancy,” the report stated.
It added that such an approach places vulnerable citizens under suspicion while raising questions about accountability for institutional actions.
The report cited the recent detention of Touseef Haider, Manzoor Hussain, Qasid and Faisal Abbas as an example of what it described as a coercive approach. According to the report, Pakistani security forces accused the four Shia youths of having links with the Zainabiyoun Brigade, an Iran-affiliated militia.
Faisal Abbas and Touseef Haider reportedly faced charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and the Pakistan Penal Code, while Manzoor Hussain was charged under the Explosive Substances Act alongside terrorism-related legislation.
“The seriousness of these provisions makes transparent proceedings particularly necessary. Yet the controversy surrounding the arrests suggests that official accusations have not answered fundamental questions about evidence and due process,” the report said.
Directus also highlighted allegations that Shia youths in PoGB were subjected to abuses between 2018 and 2022. According to the report, some individuals were allegedly taken from their homes under the pretext of brief questioning about travel records, with subsequent accounts referring to secret transfers, prolonged confinement and torture.
The report said these allegations warranted an independent investigation.
“Claims involving thousands of detainees require verification, but uncertainty about the scale does not diminish the seriousness of concealed detention. If authorities refuse to disclose whereabouts or bring detainees before courts, they undermine the legal protections that distinguish legitimate investigation from unchecked state coercion and institutional abuse,” it stated.
The report also drew attention to the impact of alleged arbitrary detentions on families, who may be left searching for missing relatives without receiving basic information from the authorities.
Prolonged uncertainty, it said, can disrupt education, livelihoods and emotional well-being. At the community level, recurring allegations of arbitrary arrests may foster fear and discourage young people from voicing grievances or participating in public affairs.
“Pakistan’s establishment consequently risks producing political silence through fear rather than consent through responsive governance. Such silence may temporarily conceal discontent, but it cannot be mistaken for social stability or acceptance of state authority,” the report added.
The report called for greater transparency, due process and independent scrutiny of the allegations, stressing the need to establish the facts surrounding the detentions and ensure accountability where wrongdoing is substantiated.
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