The arrests took place in Sector F-6 of the federal capital, where participants had assembled for the rally. Organizers had announced plans to march from F-6 to D-Chowk, a key protest site in the city center. Police briefly blocked nearby roads during the operation, reopening them after the detainees were taken into custody. Veteran human rights activists Tahira Abdullah and Farazana Bari are among those arrested.

The Aurat March X account quoted three journalists who were later released as saying that women were dragged and beaten up by police while being arrested.

District administration officials said the event had not been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which is required to hold public gatherings. They added that Section 144 – a legal provision restricting public assemblies – was in effect in Islamabad at the time. Authorities said the participants were detained for violating these restrictions.

Aurat March organizers, however, said they had submitted an application for an NOC to the deputy commissioner roughly a month earlier and that their request had not been formally rejected.

The arrests drew widespread condemnation.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a post on X: “HRCP demands the immediate release of @Aurat_marchisb organisers and participants, who were arrested earlier today by the Islamabad police. Marking International Women’s Day is the legitimate right of all Pakistani women and must be respected by the authorities. Such oppressive measures in the name of maintaining law and order are highly deplorable.”

Former senator Farhatullah Babar tweeted: “Women activists in front of press club Islamabad arrested without provocation on Int’l Women Day today and sent to women police station. We are at police station for over 2 hours wanting to see them but access is not allowed. Sad, unfortunate. Demand immediate release.”

Former state minister and leader of the Awam Pakistan party, Zafar Mirza, wrote on X: “@AwamPakistan condemn the arrests of the participants of the Aurat March in Islamabad today on the occasion of International Women Day. Peaceful protest is the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen, and actions such as arrests for exercising this right are against democratic values. The government and relevant institutions should respect this fundamental right of citizens and immediately release the arrested persons.

However, Awaam Pakistan also emphasize that all protestors should abide by the law and regulations so that the protest remains peaceful and does not create any kind of unrest or conflict.”

The Aurat March is an annual demonstration held in several Pakistani cities on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day and highlight issues such as gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and women’s rights.

The rallies have frequently faced pushback from authorities and conservative groups. In 2023, clashes broke out between police and demonstrators during the march in Islamabad, with officers blocking access to protest sites and attempting to disperse participants. In other years, organizers have faced legal petitions seeking to halt the demonstrations, as well as police cases and accusations over slogans and banners displayed during the rallies.

Fariha Ijaz

The writer is an Assistant Editor at Dissent Today, focusing on extremism and political violence.

The post Pakistan Police Arrest 17 at Islamabad Aurat March on Women’s Day appeared first on Dissent Today.

The Aurat March is held annually across Pakistan to celebrate International Women’s Day. Aurat March has already taken place in other cities of the country. However, the organisers for Aurat March Karachi decided to march on a weekend so working women can also participate.

The organisers of the march have put forth seven demands in the manifesto.

The first demand includes the enforcement of minimum wages across all sectors and strict laws against those who break the law. The second demand includes cutting down the military budget and spending it specifically on the rehabilitation of flood victims.

Unprecedented floods ravaged Pakistan in 2022, causing thousands of deaths and leaving many homeless.

The third demand includes a monthly stipend for women and the transgender community impacted by floods.

The fourth demand draws government attention to the practice of bonded labour in Sindh. The organisers have urged the authorities to curtail the practice of bonded labour, which impacts marginalised communities the most, and also eliminate private jails from Sindh, where farmers are kept by their landlords.

The fifth demand includes the establishment of shelter houses, while in the sixth demand, the organisers have urged the federal government to uphold Transgender Persons
(Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 in its original form.

The progressive Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018 accords transgender citizens the right to self-identify. However, recently the bill has faced opposition from extremist elements in the country, who consider it to be “un-Islamic”.

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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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Aurat March is held annually in several cities of Pakistan on International Women’s Day.

The Aurat March participant said that he is sharing the story of his mother because it is not just a story of an individual but the story of millions of women in Pakistan.

THREAD

As my placard from this year’s Aurat march has gone viral, I want to share the story of my mother. It’s not the story of an individual; it is the story of millions of women in Pakistan and around the globe. When my mom was 10 years old, she was fond of reading and writing pic.twitter.com/ixpJnkE4OK

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

He said that his mother was very fond of education and wanted to go to school like her brothers.

and wanted to go to school like her brothers. One day, she expressed her desire to her grandmother, who agreed and purchased a “Takhti” for her. My mom went to school for one or two days, and when she returned home, she cleaned her “Takhti” with mud so she could use it again the

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

“When my mom was 10 years old, she was fond of reading and writing,” he said while adding that she was allowed to go to school after she expressed this desire at home.

“One day, she expressed her desire to her grandmother, who agreed and purchased a “Takhti” for her. My mom went to school for one or two days.”

next day.

One day, a relative who was a Molvi and member of a religious political party, Maulana Fazal Rehman, came to visit their home. He saw my mom’s Takhti and asked her grandmother about it. She told him that it belonged to her granddaughter, who goes to school and wants to

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

However, a male relative of the family, who was also associated with a religious party, upon learning that his mother goes to school became “infuriated”, saying “there was no need for girls to study, as it was against their culture and religious values. He claimed that if she learned to write, she would write letters to other men and violate the honor of their family.”

learn. The Molvi became infuriated when he heard this and said that there was no need for girls to study, as it was against their culture and religious values. He claimed that if she learned to write, she would write letters to other men and violate the honor of their family.

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

And from that day, he said, that his mother was not allowed to go to school.
“Whenever my mom tells me this story, I can see the tears and helplessness in her eyes, which breaks my heart, but I can’t do anything to help her.”

From that day, she was never allowed to go to school. Whenever my mom tells me this story, I can see the tears and helplessness in her eyes, which breaks my heart, but I can’t do anything to help her. Her dreams were shattered, and she was deprived of the fundamental right to

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

He added that his mother was deprived of her fundamental right to education and this still happens in Pakistan and around the world “where women’s basic rights are taken away because of their gender”.

education, with no one to assist her. This still happens in Pakistan and around the world today, where women’s basic rights are taken away because of their gender, and nobody seems to care.

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

He concluded that this was the reason that he carried the banner with this message to march on International Women’s Day.

That’s why I decided to carry this banner on International Women’s Day, so that no other women would be treated like this.

— Ehtesham Hassan (@Ehteysham1) March 9, 2023

It is pertinent to mention here that more than one-third of Pakistani girls don’t have access to education and Pakistan often ranks among the worst countries in gender inequality in the education sector.

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Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the three policemen were suspended while “other persons responsible for misbehaviour” were also being identified and proper action would also be taken against them.

The police personnel involved in baton-charging the participants of the Women’s March have been suspended. Moreover, other persons responsible for misbehavior are also being identified, and proper action will be taken against them too.

— Rana SanaUllah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) March 8, 2023

In Islamabad, police baton-charged the Aurat March participants and blocked the route to the march with barbed wires and containers.

Police baton charge at Aurat March participants in Islamabad. #AuratMarch2023 #AuratAzadiJalsa2023 #AuratMarch #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/X6UQFDgyuX

— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) March 8, 2023

Police also remained silent spectators while media persons attacked the transgender people participating in the march.

Media persons hit transgender people participating in Aurat March as Islamabad police remain silent spectators. #AuratMarch2023 #AuratAzadiJalsa2023 #AuratMarch #8thMarch pic.twitter.com/ST1RKHCV1U

— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) March 8, 2023

The march participants were also intimidated and harassed by religious groups.

Following the incident, the interior minister had taken notice of the violence used by the police against citizens and said that “strict legal action” would be pursued against those responsible for the “mistreatment”.

Sanaullah had said that the Islamabad police chief had been summoned regarding the matter.

I have taken strict notice of the behaviour meted out to the participants of the women’s march in Islamabad. The IG Police Islamabad has been summoned, and strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for this mistreatment.

— Rana SanaUllah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) March 8, 2023

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman had also condemned the incident.

“The Islamabad police had no business baton-charging a small peaceful procession,” she tweeted.

“It is the women holding laathis that need to be pushed back, not progressive women. Sad to see this happening. I will seek an inquiry,” she said.

Friends from @AuratAzadiMarch are rightly upset. The Islamabad police had NO business laathi charging a small peaceful procession. It is the women holding laathis that need to be pushed back, not progressive women. Sad to see this happening. Will seek an inquiry

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) March 8, 2023

The basic demands behind the Aurat 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 drafting policies regarding 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.

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We look at the few placards that caught our attention from the Aurat March across several cities.

Bodily autonomy is one of the fundamental human rights and the foundation for gender equality, however, the Aurat March participants have continuously faced backlash for demanding this fundamental right.

2.

More than one-third of Pakistani girls don’t have access to education and Pakistan often ranks among the worst countries in gender inequality in the education sector.

3.

Baloch women also participated in the march and protested against enforced disappearances amid a rise in alleged abductions of Baloch women by security forces.

4.
A staggering 32 per cent of women have experienced physical violence in Pakistan and 40 per cent of ever-married women have suffered from spousal abuse. The number is considered much higher than this since domestic abuse cases mostly go unreported in Pakistan due to a lack of awareness among other reasons.

5.

Transgender rights are human rights. There have also been growing instances of politicians and celebrities openly passing discriminatory remarks against the transgender community with the recent amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, and a murder attempt on Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor Marvia Malik.

6.

Last month, a woman was gang-raped in one of the biggest public parks in Islamabad and was told by her rapist to “not come to the park at this time”. Victim blaming is a major factor that stops rape survivors from reporting the crime.

7.

Housework should be valued and shared by all the members of the house, so we stan this poster.

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In Islamabad, police baton-charged the Aurat March participants and blocked the route to the march with barbed wires and containers.

Police baton charge at Aurat March participants in Islamabad. #AuratMarch2023 #AuratAzadiJalsa2023 #AuratMarch #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/X6UQFDgyuX

— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) March 8, 2023

Police also remained silent spectators while media persons attacked the transgender people participating in the march.

Media persons hit transgender people participating in Aurat March as Islamabad police remain silent spectators. #AuratMarch2023 #AuratAzadiJalsa2023 #AuratMarch #8thMarch pic.twitter.com/ST1RKHCV1U

— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) March 8, 2023

The march participants were also intimidated and harassed by religious groups.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah took notice of the violence used by the police against citizens and said that “strict legal action” would be pursued against those responsible for the “mistreatment”.

Sanaullah said he had taken strict notice of the behaviour meted out to the participants of the march, adding that the Islamabad police chief had been summoned regarding the matter.

I have taken strict notice of the behaviour meted out to the participants of the women’s march in Islamabad. The IG Police Islamabad has been summoned, and strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for this mistreatment.

— Rana SanaUllah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) March 8, 2023

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman also condemned the incident.

“The Islamabad police had no business baton-charging a small peaceful procession,” she tweeted.

“It is the women holding laathis that need to be pushed back, not progressive women. Sad to see this happening. I will seek an inquiry,” she said.

Friends from @AuratAzadiMarch are rightly upset. The Islamabad police had NO business laathi charging a small peaceful procession. It is the women holding laathis that need to be pushed back, not progressive women. Sad to see this happening. Will seek an inquiry

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) March 8, 2023

In another tweet, she said that “there is no excuse for this (violence). That too on International Women’s Day. This is not what we fought for and will not tolerate it”.

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

Separately in Lahore, the routes leading to the march were also disrupted due to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally in the city, while the Punjab Home Department imposed Section 144 in the city, barring all protests and demonstrations.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department, “holding all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations, […] protests and such like other activities are banned across the district Lahore are banned to avert any untoward incident”.

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.

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The court also directed Lahore District Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider to ensure the security of the march participants.

The Aurat March organising committee had last month requested a no objection certificate (NOC) from the district administration to hold a rally on March 8 at Nasser Bagh, Lahore, followed by a march around the perimeter of the park.

However, the DC denied permission to organise the Aurat March, citing “controversial” placards and the likelihood of clashes with members of Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) ‘Haya March’ as grounds for the rejection.

Subsequently, the Aurat March’s organising committee filed a petition in the LHC.

During today’s hearing, the court dismissed the DC’s orders of denying a NOC to the Aurat March Lahore organisers for the rally and asked both parties to decide on the venue of the march.

Subsequently, both parties agreed that the march venues would be NADRA Office, and from Shimla Pahari to Faletti’s Hotel. The court was also told that the march would be held between 2pm and 6pm.

The court disposed of the petition while restraining march organisers from uploading any controversial statements on social media.

Justice Anwaar Hussain heard the petition.

In an earlier hearing, Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabir refused to hear the plea due to “personal reasons” and sent the case file to the LHC chief justice, requesting to mark it to another bench. The petition was then assigned to Justice Anwaar Hussain for hearing.

The petitioners maintained that the DC’s order is “an arbitrary and colourable exercise of power” and requested the court to strike down the commissioner’s order.

Regarding the security concerns and the JI’s planned march, the petitioners said they had requested the DC to facilitate them by ensuring security in holding the Aurat March, which would be confined within Nasir Bagh’s boundaries for the most part on March 8.

It was also requested that the court pass directions to concerned quarters to fully facilitate the petitioners and all the women of Lahore to peacefully participate in the Aurat March being organised at Nasir Bagh this year.

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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 development comes after a much delay from the Multan District Commissioner.

Aurat March Multan organisers shared the development on their Twitter handle.

We are excited to announce that the District Administration has given NOC for this year’s #AuratMarchMultan. We are hoping to see you all tomorrow at Nawan Shehar Chowk at 4pm. Bring your placards and celebrate sister hood with us. #MarchToHoga #AuratMarch2023 pic.twitter.com/XPKlWLx7Vi

— Aurat March Multan- عورت مارچ ملتان (@AuratMarchMultn) March 7, 2023

Despite Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir’s assurance that the government will not hinder the Aurat March rallies in the province, the Multan DC 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 had also misbehaved with the Aurat March organisers.

The rights activists had condemned the city administration’s move.

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The President of Pakistan says that women have the whole year to protest , so why take out demonstrations just on the 8 th of March #InternationalWomensDay https://t.co/stN1mndYtr

— Munizae Jahangir (@MunizaeJahangir) March 6, 2023

Despite Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir’s assurance that the government will not hinder the Aurat March rallies in the province, the Lahore, Multan, and Islamabad administrations denied the NOCs to Aurat March.

The Lahore administration denied permission to organise the Aurat March, citing “controversial” placards and the likelihood of clashes with members of Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) ‘Haya March’ as grounds for the rejection.

Separately, the Islamabad administration directed the organisers to hold the march in a park.

Meanwhile, Multan DC denied the request of the Aurat March organising committee to issue a No Objection Certificate for holding a rally at Nawan Shehr Chowk.

According to the organising committee of the Aurat March Multan, the city administration also misbehaved with the Aurat March organisers.

While responding to journalist Munizae Jahangir’s question on why the Aurat March organisers have been denied NOCs, the president responded that he is aware of women’s rights without any protests. 

The journalist also questioned if women should have the freedom to come out on International Women’s Day.

The president said that he is requesting women that why don’t they debate about this all year round.

“Why only on March 8th?” he questioned.

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.

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