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Sovereign Threat

The Sovereign Citizen Movement, a global campaign mainly concentrated in the West, can manifest itself in Pakistan, too, as the country’s underlying conditions resonate deeply with this rebellious ideology

By Adeel Ahmed | October 2025


In the picturesque Alpine region of Victoria, Australia, known more for its sweeping mountains and tranquil forests than violence, a deadly confrontation has shaken the small town of Porepunkah and drawn national attention to a little-understood ideology gaining momentum across the Western world.

A few days ago, ten police officers arrived at the property of 56-year-old Daisy Freeman with a warrant related to allegations of sexual and child abuse. Freeman, who had been living in a caravan on his land roughly 350 kilometers northeast of Melbourne, responded with gunfire. Two officers were killed on the spot, and a third was left seriously wounded. After the attack, Freeman is said to have taken the officers’ weapons and disappeared into the dense Alpine bushland.

Since then, elite police units have launched one of the region’s largest manhunts in recent years. However, rugged terrain, freezing winter nights, and Freeman’s apparent survival skills have complicated efforts to track him down. Those familiar with the Alpine landscape describe it as breathtaking yet unforgiving—a place where rugged mountains and icy conditions can challenge even the most seasoned outdoorspeople.

What has alarmed authorities and experts alike is Freeman’s self-identification as a sovereign citizen. The term refers to individuals or groups who reject the authority of governments, refusing to pay taxes, vehicle registration fees, property taxes or other official obligations. Many within the movement also oppose vaccines and prefer to live under their own set of rules.

Though often dismissed as fringe, the movement has roots in the United States, where tens of thousands now identify with it. In recent years, the ideology has gained traction in Western nations, with social media providing fertile ground for its spread.

In Australia, the numbers are relatively small—believed to be in the hundreds—but experts warn of rapid growth. “What we’re seeing is a transnational ideology that taps into economic frustration, distrust in institutions, and the appeal of individual sovereignty,” one sociologist explains.
Why People Turn to the Sovereign Citizen Movement


The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the sovereign citizen movement’s reach, as the movement’s followers viewed lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccination campaigns as state coercion. Beyond the pandemic, rising debt, housing pressures, immigration debates, and a judicial system perceived as inaccessible or unfair have further fueled interest.

For many adherents, the ideology offers more than a political statement—it provides a sense of defiance, autonomy, and belonging in a world they see as dominated by distant institutions. Yet, as the Porepunkah shootout illustrates, the consequences can turn deadly when ideology collides with law enforcement.

A Warning Sign for Pakistan
While the sovereign citizen movement is currently concentrated in the West, the underlying conditions that fuel it are not unique to developed nations. Pakistan, in particular, presents a case where such an ideology could resonate deeply if left unchecked.

Rampant inflation, high taxation, unemployment, political instability, and widespread corruption have eroded public trust in state institutions. A large number of people in Pakistan already feel alienated from the political system and judicial processes, while social inequalities continue to widen day by day. In this context, an ideology rejecting government authority, refusing taxation, and advocating self-rule could appeal to marginalized or disillusioned groups in the country.

Pakistan’s highly active social media space further increases the risk. Narratives questioning the state’s legitimacy can spread rapidly online, attracting young people frustrated with economic hardship and governance failures. While there is currently no formal sovereign citizen movement in the country, experts warn that its adoption, even in fragmented forms, could pose a serious challenge to social cohesion and state authority.
For policymakers, the lesson is clear: strengthening trust between citizens and the state, addressing economic grievances, and ensuring fairness in governance are not only development goals—they are essential safeguards against the rise of extremist or anti-state ideologies.
A Challenge for the Future

The Freeman case has brought Australia’s sovereign citizen movement into sharper focus. While most adherents are non-violent, the risk of confrontation with authorities remains real. Governments worldwide may soon need to recognize the movement not just as a legal nuisance, but as a symptom of more profound social and economic discontent.

The danger is particularly acute in countries like Pakistan, where institutional weaknesses and public frustration run deep. What is now seen as a fringe Western phenomenon, without proactive measures, could eventually evolve into a disruptive local reality.

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