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

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Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider has denied permission to organise the Aurat March, citing “controversial” placards and the likelihood of clashes with members of Jamaat-i-Islami’s ‘Haya March’ as grounds for the rejection, while human rights activists have condemned the move.

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 Lahore district administration was requested a no objection certificate (NOC) for holding a rally on March 8 at Nasser Bagh, Lahore, followed by a march around the perimeter of the park.

However, the Lahore DC rejected the plea on the grounds of security concerns, ‘controversial’ cards and banners supporting women’s rights, and the likelihood of clashes with members of JI’s  ‘Haya March’.

JI’s ‘Haya March’ is a religious counter-movement in response to Aurat March.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the move, saying that the right to peaceful assembly being challenged on such grounds is a “poor defence” by the district administration.

HRCP strongly condemns the Lahore district administration’s decision to deny the @AuratMarch organisers permission to hold a public rally marking International Women’s Day on 8 March. pic.twitter.com/CTL5nqTbUP

— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) March 3, 2023

The HRCP also called on the Punjab government to “uphold the right to freedom of peaceful assembly”, while urging the government to provide security.
The organisers of Aurat March Lahore also criticised the move, and said that the courts in 2020 had granted permission to hold March in Islamabad and Lahore.

The organising committee of the Lahore march said they will march, “upholding the rich history of Pakistani women and transgender activists defiantly fighting the systems that seek to oppress us”.

Not only are we being denied permission to gather at our chosen route (Nasir Bagh), the rejection further goes out of its way to foreclose all previous venues of the March such as Press Club, Alhamra, and Mall Road.

3/n pic.twitter.com/sa6lixPElc

— ⁧عورت مارچ لاہور⁩ – Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) March 3, 2023

In a city where large crowds are allowed to gather for PSL, a peaceful gathering of women and gender minorities is being silenced and denied their constitutional right to assembly. Are cricket matches more important than issues of gender-based violence?

6/n#MarchTuHogi pic.twitter.com/PpL3VnrScP

— ⁧عورت مارچ لاہور⁩ – Aurat March Lahore (@AuratMarch) March 3, 2023

Meanwhile, Aurat March Islamabad was also directed to hold the march at F-9 Park, instead of Islamabad Press Club, which was proposed by the organising committee members.

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