March 7, 2025
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
The Aurat March collective in Islamabad, held a press conference on Thursday March 6, at the Islamabad Press Club under the theme ‘Feminist Politics vs. Patriarchal State’, and presented a wide-ranging list of demands addressing human rights, social justice, and environmental concerns. The feminist collective which says its aim is to be independent, non-partisan, and intersectional, reiterated its commitment to challenging patriarchal structures and advocacy for the rights of women, transgender individuals, non-binary persons, and marginalized communities.
Repeal draconian laws
The organizers strongly condemned state repression, demanding an immediate repeal of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act (PAPO) 2024 and amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which they say severely curtail fundamental freedoms such as speech, assembly, and association. The newly passed PECA Law 2025 was also criticized as an attempt to suppress freedom of expression.
“Aurat March Islamabad has consistently raised these demands, yet every year they remain unfulfilled,” human rights activist Farzana Bari told Voicepk after the press conference. “We demand all fundamental rights for women, and the state must act immediately.”
The organizers of the press conference, urged the government to declare gender-based violence (GBV) a national emergency and adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards patriarchal violence. They emphasized the need for strict enforcement of laws against domestic abuse, harassment, and underage marriages, alongside the full implementation of the Transgender Rights Protection Act.
Protection of minorities
The speakers also condemned the enforced disappearances of Baloch, Pashtun, and Sindhi human rights activists and journalists, calling for their immediate recovery.
It also called for legislative action to protect the rights of religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, Shias, and Ahmadis, demanding an end to their persecution and full social, political, and economic rights as equal citizens. The collective called for amendments to blasphemy laws to prevent their misuse for political and economic gains.
Speaking to Voicepk, minority rights activist Jayaa Jaggi highlighted the plight of young girls from minority communities. “Underage girls are forcibly converted, sexually abused, and subjected to violence. The government must take immediate action to prevent such injustices.”
The organizers also condemned the forced deportation of Afghan refugees, calling it a humanitarian crisis and urging the government to implement policies that ensure safe and legal pathways for those seeking protection.
Rightful space of women
The press conference strongly criticized the state’s continued restrictions on the Aurat March, highlighting how peaceful women marchers have been denied their right to assembly since 2020. Despite repeated applications for a No Objection Certificate (NOC), the authorities have ignored them, directing this year’s march to Parade Ground—a space associated with military displays.
“Aurat March is a democratic right, but the state continues to suppress this public right to protest,” said one of the organizers Zainab Jamil. “Such laws deprive people of their constitutional freedoms and reinforce the patriarchal state’s anti-feminist stance.”
The march organizers demanded that March 8, International Women’s Day, be declared a national holiday, emphasizing that their struggle for equality, justice, and democratic freedoms will persist despite state resistance. They said that they would remain steadfast in its fight against patriarchal oppression, urging the government to heed their demands and take concrete steps towards a just and inclusive society.