In a harsh move against free speech and student activism, Pakistan’s authorities arrested 16-year-old Abid Raja, a student from Gilgit-Baltistan, for leading a demonstration against the abysmal secondary school exam results where every student failed. Raja organized the protest along the Karakoram Highway to draw attention to the severe lack of facilities, teacher shortages, and the overall poor educational infrastructure in Chilas schools. His arrest has ignited widespread condemnation from political activists, civil society, and students, who are demanding his immediate release.
Gilgit-Baltistan, a region illegally occupied by Pakistan, continues to face systemic neglect from the Pakistani government. Abid Raja had previously led protests in Diamer, demanding urgent action to address teacher vacancies and the severe deficiencies in the education system. His efforts to highlight the deplorable conditions of state-run schools in Gilgit-Baltistan were intended to shed light on the plight of students who are denied basic educational rights due to the government’s failure to provide adequate resources.
Instead of addressing these critical issues, the Pakistani government chose to arrest Raja, sending a clear message that dissent will not be tolerated. Pakistani authorities have consistently failed to prioritize the welfare of the people in Gilgit-Baltistan, opting instead to suppress any attempts at raising concerns about the ongoing educational crisis. This is part of a wider pattern of ignoring the needs of the region’s citizens while maintaining an iron grip on the occupied territory.
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In the wake of Raja’s arrest, students from Chilas Girls’ School took to the streets, joining in the protest and demanding better educational facilities and reforms. These protests reflect a growing frustration among the youth, who are fed up with the Pakistani government’s neglect of their future. Civil society leaders and political activists across the region have condemned the arrest, calling it a violation of basic rights and an attempt to suppress the voices of those fighting for a better future.
While Pakistani leaders continue to mismanage the occupied region, Gilgit-Baltistan’s youth are left to face the consequences of an underfunded, outdated education system. The failure to address the severe teacher shortages and poor infrastructure in schools has resulted in widespread disillusionment among students, who are being denied the opportunity to succeed. Instead of investing in the future of *Gilgit-Baltistan, the Pakistani government continues to focus on its own interests, leaving the youth to bear the brunt of its negligence.
The arrest of Abid Raja is a stark reminder of the Pakistani government’s authoritarian approach in Gilgit-Baltistan, where freedom of speech and basic human rights are routinely suppressed. It is part of a broader effort by Pakistan to stifle any opposition to its illegal occupation of the region.
The calls for Abid Raja’s release are growing louder, but they also underscore the broader educational crisis in Pakistan-occupied *Gilgit-Baltistan. Until Pakistan recognizes and addresses the needs of its youth, incidents like Raja’s arrest will continue to highlight the government’s failure to provide a meaningful future for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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