The Baloch National Movement (BNM) staged a protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, drawing the attention of the international community to the human rights situation in Balochistan, enforced disappearances, and incidents of extrajudicial killings, and called on the United Nations for “immediate action.”
The protest was held from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on First Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd Streets, on the occasion of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans against human rights violations in Balochistan and held various placards and banners. On the occasion, a tableau was also presented on the subject of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, symbolically highlighting these incidents and the situation of their victims.
The protest was addressed by Samiullah Baloch, President of the American Chapter of the BNM, and others.
During the protest, the BNM highlighted military actions in Balochistan, the enforced disappearance of thousands of people, the detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders, women and human rights activists, and collective punishment.
The organisation also included the targeting of women and children, the destruction of homes, and the displacement of communities among the key issues raised during the protest.
The BNM called on the United Nations and the international community to “end their silence” over the situation in Balochistan and take “immediate action.”
The protest featured various slogans, including “Free Balochistan” and calls for an end to enforced disappearances.
The protest took place while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was addressing the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the BNM, the protest in New York was part of its efforts to highlight the Balochistan issue at the international level on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly session.