March 9, 2024
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD
The Aurat March held a press conference outside the Islamabad Press Club on Saturday, to condemn the action taken against the marchers by the Islamabad police on the International Women’s Day on Friday.
“The network of madrasas surrounding Islamabad, particularly the Laal Masjid, has influenced the mindset of those governing Islamabad,” says women’s rights activist Farzana Bari.
She adds, this was the fifth consecutive year the organisationwas denied NOCs, the police obstructs our forward march – “Last year, some of our participants were accused of blasphemy”.
Bari says, “We will ensure that this movement led by young femisnists continues.”
Uzma Yaqoob says that the behaviour will not deter women that come out into the streets to demand equal rights once a year – “The newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the first-ever female Chief of Punjab Maryam Nawaz must condemn the treatment meted out to us on the International Women’s Day.”
She also demanded to know who ordered the action against the Aurat March in Islamabad.
Bariya Shah asked why the participants of Haya March are allowed to congregate at the D-Chowk and not Aurat March. “It’s unfortunate that our women were mistreated, children and elderly women were pushed around.We will continue to come out into the streets of Islamabad every year, undeterred, to celebrate the International women’s day.
A large number of activists and other people took part in the Aurat March organised to celebrate the International Women’s Day on Friday. Women and members of the marginalized communities express their achievements and raise their voice against the discrimination, violence, and harassment they are subjected to in Pakistan.
Their theme this year was ‘resistance’ and ‘hope’. They carried various placards to express solidarity with the citizens of Palestine. They also called for protection against violence against women and enforced disappearances.