Despite Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir’s assurance that the government will not hinder the Aurat March rallies in the province, the District Commissioner Multan has denied the request of the Aurat March organising committee to issue a No Objection Certificate for holding a rally at Nawan Shehr Chowk, Multan.
According to the organising committee of the Aurat March Multan, the city administration also misbehaved with the Aurat March organisers.
The Aurat March is held annually to observe International Women’s Day across several cities in Pakistan, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Multan among others.
The basic demands behind the march are equal opportunities for everyone, including transgenders and women; raising awareness regarding gender-based violence, and calling on authorities to make laws in this regard. The demands also include risks related to climate change and the exploitation of the poor that comes with it among many other issues.
However, the organisers of the March face resistance from the government and regressive elements in society every year.
The Aurat March Multan’s organisers condemned the move, deeming it an attack on their right to peaceful protest. They also vowed to find a way to “raise their voices for gender equality, climate justice, and women and Trans Rights”.
DC Multan’s decision to deny permission for Aurat March at Nawan Shehar Chowk is an attack on our right to peaceful protest. But we will not be deterred. We will find another way to raise our voices for gender equality, Climate Justice and Women and Trans Rights.
— Aurat March Multan- عورت مارچ ملتان (@AuratMarchMultn) March 6, 2023
The Aurat March organisers also said that they were not welcomed at the DC’s Office as “women and trans are ridiculed for being outspoken about their rights”.
Outrageous behavior of @DeputyMultan towards us, at his office we were shown the door while other men were asked to sit and have tea. Women and Trans are ridiculed for being outspoken about their rights. Shame on them https://t.co/LemjOVRU8S
— Aurat March Multan- عورت مارچ ملتان (@AuratMarchMultn) March 6, 2023
@DeputyMultan The audacity through which this Man has commented on our Counsel Lubna Nadeem disregarding her individuality in front of his office. We are enraged at this disrespectful behavior of DC Multan that a man as counsel is reasonable and a female lawyer is unreasonable.
— Aurat March Multan- عورت مارچ ملتان (@AuratMarchMultn) March 6, 2023
The Lahore administration also denied permission for the rally in the city, citing “controversial” placards and the likelihood of clashes with members of Jamaat-i-Islami’s ‘Haya March’ as grounds for the rejection.
Aurat March organising committee has challenged the denial of permission in the Lahore High Court.
