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Why this year’s Aurat March will be held in Lahore on February 12

Why this year’s Aurat March will be held in Lahore on February 12

The new date marks the date women bravely protested in Lahore against Gen Zia's Law of Evidence.
Updated 30 Jan, 2025

The organisers of Aurat March and the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) Lahore have jointly called for the Aurat March to be held on February 12, which marks National Women’s Day of Pakistan.

In the past, the Aurat March has been held on March 8, International Women’s Day, across several cities in Pakistan.

“On February 12, 1983, upon the call of the Punjab Women Lawyer’s Association, women gathered on Mall Road, Lahore, to protest against the discriminatory Law of Evidence passed by General Zia’s regime, bravely facing police brutality and arrest,” Aurat March Lahore wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.

“The historic day is a reminder that women and marginalised individuals have been leading the charge against oppression long before us and will endure even after us.”

The demands for this year’s march include ceasing the censorship of free expression through firewalls, surveillance technologies, and amendments to repressive laws such as the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorism Act.

The organisation also demanded the effective implementation of existing laws such as the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016. They also called for the insurance of survivor-centric, restorative justice and a universal living wage for all workers.

“This year’s joint call to march is an invitation to celebrate the everyday resistance of women and marginalised individuals who continue to demand dignity, justice, and a better world.”

Though the organisers of the march have called for it to be held on Feb 12, they are facing roadblocks from the local administration. On Wednesday, the Lahore High Court summoned replies from the Lahore deputy commissioner, chief traffic officer and operations DG to explain why they hadn’t granted the organisers permission to hold this year’s march. Five women approached the court to initiate contempt proceedings against these officials for failing to process their application to hold the march, and therefore not complying with orders the court passed in 2023.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 30, 2025 12:58pm
United we stand, divided we fall.
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M. Emad Jan 30, 2025 03:48pm
2025 Aurat March should be held all over Pakistan.
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Ahmed Jan 30, 2025 04:06pm
It's happening in Feb because it'll be Ramazan in March But as always no good will come of it. Just some copy pasted tweets
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