Pak detains UK councillor who spoke for Kashmiris, blocks his return

Pakistan detained British Labour councillor Daalat Ali, who has campaigned for Kashmiris, during a visit in October. After his release, he was reportedly stopped from boarding a flight at Lahore airport on October 28 to return home to the UK. Ali, the deputy leader of Rochdale Borough Council, was allegedly told his name was on an immigration control list.

Ali was travelling with a delegation led by Rochdale's ceremonial mayor, Faisal Rana, to Sahiwal in Punjab, a city that has been twinned with Rochdale since 1998. The UK's Rochdale Council suspects the detention was linked to his Kashmir activism.

The initial detention of Ali came to light in a Manchester Evening News report published on October 28. A day later, Jammu-based Kashmir Times reported that Ali had also been prevented from leaving Pakistan. British Labour MP Imran Hussain has sought ministerial intervention over his treatment.

Indian human rights activist Azhar Ahmed questioned the detention and said it raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and political intimidation in Pakistan. He urged the UK government to seek a full explanation from Pakistani authorities.

In his writings, Daalat Ali has described Pakistan as an occupying power in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).

UK LEADER DETAINED AT ISLAMABAD AIRPORT

According to the Kashmir Times, Ali was questioned for several hours after arriving at Islamabad airport in mid-October. Following contacts between British and Pakistani officials, he was released and rejoined the delegation.

Confirming his detention, Rochdale Borough Council said he was held for a "short period". It added, "As far as we are aware, this is related to Councillor Ali's long-standing personal campaigning in relation to the Kashmir region."

The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed a man had been detained and released, saying it was "in contact with local authorities". The precise date of Ali's detention was not disclosed.

UK LEADER STOPPED FROM FLYING HOME BY PAK

On October 28, when Ali came back to Lahore airport to fly back to the UK, he was removed from his flight. It said immigration officials told him that his name appeared on a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) control list.

Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is the country's federal law-enforcement and immigration agency, while its control lists are databases used to flag individuals and, in certain cases, prevent them from leaving the country.

The Kashmir Times cited Ali's friend, UK-based Kashmiri writer Shams Rehman, who said the councillor was instructed to complete additional paperwork in Islamabad. Rehman said Ali had confirmed he was not in custody and hoped to return once the formalities were completed.

Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain wrote on X, "This is completely unacceptable. I've today raised this matter with Ministers to ensure his urgent release and safe return back to the UK."

He added, "Freedom of expression must be respected, and the human rights of Kashmiris remain inalienable."

Originally from Kotli in POK, Ali represents Rochdale's Kingsway ward and holds the council's health portfolio. He is a Pahari-language writer who has helped establish Kashmiri community organisations in Britain.

Rochdale has a sizeable British-Pakistani population, while the borough is home to thousands of people of Kashmiri heritage. Many of them have roots in POK. The area has also been at the centre of notorious child sexual exploitation scandals involving British-Pakistani men.

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