Islamabad: A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) decision of denying No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Aurat March (Women March) organisers for holding a public rally in the provincial capital to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
They had announced to hold a rally from Nasser Bagh, Lahore, followed by a march in support of women’s rights.
Members of civil society, political parties, and rights organisations have condemned the DC’s order of rejecting their plea to organise the Aurat March.
Their application was turned down by the DC citing threat alerts and fears of clashes between Aurat March participants and activists of right wing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and other religious groups.
Islamist groups to hold ‘Haya March’
The JI has announced it will take out a rally on the same day under the title “Haya March” (Modesty March).
The petition states that the DC’s order is an “arbitrary exercise of power and is in clear violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
Requesting the court to strike down the DC’s order, the petition adds that the order is a violation of the right to assembly, freedom of speech as well as the right to non-discrimination and to be treated in the Constitution of Pakistan.
“HR commission appalled by DC’s decision”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a statement said it was appalled by the response of the local administrations in at least three cities, including Lahore, Islamabad and Multan, towards various Aurat March’s planned rallies in March 8.
The March organisers have been told they cannot exercise their right to assemble peacefully in public spaces of their choosing to mark March 8, which is quite unacceptable, the statement said.
“It is the local administration’s duty to provide security to such events, not to circumvent them in this manner. We stand in solidarity with every woman, every trans person and every ally that plans to march on International Women’s Day this year,” the statement added.
“Security Concerns”
Lahore’s DC Rafia Haider had earlier rejected permission to organize the Aurat March on the grounds of security concerns, ‘controversial’ placards and banners supporting women’s rights, and the likelihood of clashes with members of Jamaat-i-Islami’s ‘Haya March’.
Following the current security scenario, threat alerts, and law and order situation, and in light of activities like controversial cards and banners for awareness of women’s rights and the strong reservation of the general public and religious organizations, especially JI’s women’s and student wings, who had also announced a programme against the Aurat March,” said a statement issued by the DC.
On March 8, women around the world mark a day they call their own – International Women’s Day, highlighting achievements and dialoguing about issues still unresolved.
In Pakistan, women rights activists have been organizing large public demonstrations for Women’s Day called Aurat March, since 2018.
Opposition to Aurat March particularly by religious groups has grown recently.
It is not the first time that the city’s authorities have imposed such a restriction. Last year, too, the organisers in Lahore were asked to cancel the rally over safety concerns. The authorities had also warned not to provide them security.
However, the LHC had ruled the event could go ahead and authorities agreed to provide protection.
In Islamabad too, the District Administration has turned down the NOC to the organizers of the women’s march to hold a rally and asked them to restrict their activities to F-9 Park which they have refused to abide by.
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