Jamaat-i-Islami, Balochistan General Secretary Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman has been leading the protests under the ‘Gwadar ko haq do’ movement.

Demonstrators, who have been on the streets since November 16, are demanding strict action against illegal trawling, the abolishment of the token system at the Pak-Iran border and to remove unnecessary security check posts, which hinder the movement of people in the area.

According to Dawn.com, speaking at the protest on Friday, Maulana Hidayat called the protest a referendum against the government.

He said this is the "movement of the deprived and oppressed people of Balochistan comprising fishermen, poor labourers and students, which will continue till all their demands are accepted and implemented.”

The leader also said that police has blocked the Coastal Highway at Uthal, preventing people from coming to Gwadar to join the sit in.

He said that the high numbers of people participating today can also be a considered a referendum against the provincial and federal government.

People on social media expressed their solidarity with protestors in Gwadar.

“Gwadar is a sign of hope and resistance. It shows that those in power can never completely overwhelm a people. Its proves that lies can never permanently repress the truth. People of Gwadar are looking for solidarity from rest of Pakistan. It is time for us to #StandWithGwadar said Twitter user Ammar Ali Jan.

Sharing a video of the protest, one user said that the power of people is far more greater than the gun of rulers.