The protest coincided with the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Demonstrators carried banners and posters reading “Free Balochistan” to highlight their demands.

Speaking to Indian news agency ANI, Sami Baloch of the Baloch National Movement criticised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for focusing on global peace issues during his UNGA address while ignoring the situation in Balochistan.

“The Pakistani Prime Minister said in the Assembly today, ‘We want peace for Palestine.’ What about us, Baloch? Pakistan has forcibly occupied us since 1948. Extrajudicial killings continue, and our people are being targeted in courts,” Sami Baloch said.

He added, “Our leadership and peaceful protesters remain imprisoned for four to five months without any allegations. The Prime Minister of Pakistan talks about peace in the world, but he should come to Balochistan and see the reality. If Pakistan truly wants peace, it should start from Balochistan.”