Aurat March organisers called out Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Twitter for “creating chaos” during the Islamabad rally, which was held to celebrate International Women’s Day, where women participants were baton-charged by the police and transgender people were beaten up by the media persons.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman had reached the march after videos of police baton-charging the march participants made rounds on social media.
Senator Sherry Rehman had also condemned the incident on Twitter, saying that the incident has been brought to the interior minister’s notice and she had also sought an enquiry on the use of violence by police.
I strongly condemn this violence and have sought an inquiry on the incident. There is no excuse for this. That too on Int’l Women’s Day. This is not what we fought for and will not tolerate it. Has been brought to the Interior Ministers notice. https://t.co/HL45Hj9HOn
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) March 8, 2023
To this, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, one of the organisers of the march, said that the senator was the reason behind the chaos which they dealt with for the next four hours.
Imaan Mazari also called Sherry Rehman for not doing enough and showing up to the march for a “photo-op”.
U came to the march for ur photo-op & left after creating complete chaos which we were then dealing with 4 next hour. U were rude 2 us during r meeting w/ u on 6 March & were aware of all the risks we were taking. Pls save this drama for sm1 who believes it. Too little, too late. https://t.co/zFnjn1QsWa
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) March 10, 2023
Senator Sherry Rehman took a strong exception to this tweet and said that she did not show up for a photo-op and left a scheduled press conference to reach the venue of the march because she received a distress call.
“In my office, I offered u a safe space throughout the year to meet and build traction, not just a one-year episodic march,” she added.
She also condemned the angry sloganeering directed at her when she reached the march venue, saying “rudeness is never going to get you allies or grow solidarity”.
Oh please. I did not need your “photo op”; left a fully scheduled press con at PID (anyone can check) at 2.40 becoz I got a distress call. In my office I offered u a safe space thru the year to meet and build traction, not just a one year episodic march. With my broken shoulder I… https://t.co/N4MYQ4jY9G
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) March 10, 2023
To this, Iman Mazari said that “calling it just a 1-year episodic march shows what you really think about it”, while adding that the senator could have criticised what she had said without “punching down on the movement”.
Calling it “just a 1 yr episodic march” shows what u really think of it.That in itself is sad.This “one year episodic march” is a global practice-doesnt mean collectives (or even individuals w/in them) r not working yr rd. Cd hv criticized what I sd w/o punching down on movement
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) March 10, 2023
Another organiser of the march also corroborated Mazari’s version of the events, saying that she had asked the minister to condemn the baton charged, and to this, she had replied that “have you gone insane, how can I condemn my own government”.
Absolutely madam @sherryrehman I asked you to condemn lathi charge u said
“تم پاگل ھو میں اپنی گورنمنٹ کو کنڈئیم کروں”
Ur press put their boots on trans & women on floor & suffocated them to cover u, I pulled them &stood infront of to stop 2nd presser that angered u & u left.1/2— Fauzia Yazdani (@yazdanifauzia) March 10, 2023
@drfarzanabari requested on pub mic-lead us to D chowk; u left post presser-1. presser-2 by standing with trans created chaos.trans were beaten up by media. we were harassed, young volunteers hounded.
we stood our ground & made it.
I didn’t expect it from #PPP so yes too late
— Fauzia Yazdani (@yazdanifauzia) March 10, 2023
It is pertinent to mention here that a scuffle broke out between media persons and transgender people present in the march reportedly after Sherry Rehman’s arrival as the reporters pushed through transgender individuals trying to get better coverage of Sherry Rehman.
Aurat March in #Islamabad was marred by police violence and hostility.
See details here:#AuratMarch2023 #AuratAzadiJalsa2023 #AuratMarchISB pic.twitter.com/iSvz7NDdti— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) March 9, 2023
