Pakistani authorities must disclose the grounds for detaining young Shia activists in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), ensure access to legal counsel, produce detainees before courts, and investigate allegations of torture and enforced disappearance, according to a report by Athens-based Directus. The findings, published on 19 October 2026, warn that Islamabad's failure to uphold these obligations reinforces concerns that the establishment prioritises control over justice.

Key Allegations Against Pakistani Authorities

The Directus report argues that Pakistan's treatment of Shia youths in PoGB exposes a direct contradiction between its national security claims and its legal responsibility to protect those living under its administration. It states that the deployment of stringent counterterrorism legislation against young activists has fuelled fears that security powers are being used to suppress legitimate grievances rather than address underlying concerns about marginalisation and economic deprivation.

'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.

Four Shia Youths at the Centre of the Case

The report specifically highlights the cases of Touseef Haider, Manzoor Hussain, Qasid, and Faisal Abbas as illustrative of what it describes as a coercive pattern. According to the report, Pakistani security forces reportedly accused the four Shia youths of association with the Zainabiyoun Brigade, an Iran-affiliated militia. Faisal Abbas and Touseef Haider reportedly faced charges under the Anti Terrorism Act of 1997 and the Pakistan Penal Code, while Manzoor Hussain was charged under the Explosive Substances Act alongside terrorism legislation.

The report noted that the gravity of these legal provisions makes transparent judicial proceedings particularly necessary, yet the controversy surrounding the arrests suggests that official accusations have not adequately addressed fundamental questions about evidence and due process.

Pattern of Disappearances Between 2018 and 2022

Beyond the four named individuals, the report documents a broader pattern of alleged atrocities. It states that between 2018 and 2022, some Shia youths were reportedly taken from their homes under the pretext of brief questioning about travel records. Accounts of secret transfers, prolonged confinement, and torture, according to the report, warrant an independent investigation.

The report acknowledged that claims involving thousands of detainees require independent verification, but cautioned that 'uncertainty about the scale does not diminish the seriousness of concealed detention.' It further stated that if authorities refuse to disclose the whereabouts of detainees or produce them before courts, they undermine the legal protections that distinguish legitimate investigation from unchecked state coercion.

Impact on Families and Communities

The Directus report underscores the devastating toll these alleged practices take on families left searching for loved ones while institutions reportedly withhold even the most basic information. Prolonged uncertainty, it notes, disrupts education, livelihoods and emotional well-being — not only for detainees but for entire households.

At the community level, recurring allegations of arbitrary arrests are said to have created a climate of fear, discouraging young people from voicing grievances or participating in public affairs. The report warned that Pakistan's establishment consequently 'risks producing political silence through fear rather than consent through responsive governance,' adding that such silence cannot be mistaken for social stability or genuine acceptance of state authority.

Call for Accountability and Independent Investigation

The report's central demand is for an independent, transparent investigation into detention conditions and allegations of torture in PoGB. It frames disclosure of detention grounds, access to legal counsel, and timely production before courts as fundamental legal obligations — not discretionary acts. This comes amid a broader international spotlight on human rights conditions in Pakistan-administered territories, where civil society groups have repeatedly flagged accountability deficits. How Islamabad responds to this documented pressure will be closely watched by international human rights observers in the weeks ahead.