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Aurat March has permission to hold its rally on Feb 12, Lahore High Court told

Aurat March has permission to hold its rally on Feb 12, Lahore High Court told

The city's deputy commissioner said they were providing "foolproof security" for the march.
06 Feb, 2025

The Aurat March will hold its demonstration in Lahore on February 12 complete with security from the local police, the Lahore High Court was told on Thursday.

Justice Anwaar Hussain was hearing a contempt of court case filed against Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza and several other officers by the organisers of the march for not approving their request to hold the annual demonstration.

DC Raza told the court during the hearing that they have granted permission for the march to be held. A government lawyer submitted a letter to the court, regarding security arrangements made for the march on February 12.

In the letter, the additional deputy commissioner stated that the march is being held on February 12 and “foolproof security” was being provided.

The court disposed of the case after it was informed that permission had been granted.

The contempt petition was filed by Khawar Mumtaz, Leena Ghani, Neelam Hussain, Fatima Jan and Shereen Umair last week against against the Lahore DC, Operations DG Muhammad Faisal Kamran and Chief Traffic Officer Athar Waheed. In their petition, the organisers said their application to hold the event on February 12 was not being processed, accusing the officials of employing “dilatory tactics” and not following a 2023 court order.

This year, the march is set to be held on February 12 on its traditional route from Lahore Press Club to Edgerton Road, outside PIA Office. This is the same route that the Aurat March has taken in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Instead of being held on March 8, International Women’s Day, the march is being held on February 12 to commemorate National Women’s Day of 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 last week.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Feb 06, 2025 12:19pm
It's great to grant permission to Aurat March to organize its rally in Lahore, Islamic Republic of Pakistan on February 12, 2025. However, in the name of true justice, equity, fairness and equality, why not to grant similar permissions to other parties like P.T.I. to hold its rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan, Ravi Road, Lahore on February 08, 2025?
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Ahmed Feb 06, 2025 12:28pm
The original march didn't achieve anything. This will be similar.
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Nouman Ahmed Feb 06, 2025 02:31pm
If the previous marches hadn't been successful, government would have not had to resort to delaying tactics. It's precisely because these marches have been successful SOMEWHAT, that's why the state machinery is against them.
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sajid choudry Feb 06, 2025 04:07pm
Grant equal rights to ladies minorities as they are pakistani citizens no need for marches
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Amir Shah Feb 06, 2025 04:10pm
What’s the purpose of this Aurat March, these women simply doing this on behalf of western countries and have no sole purpose. Islam gives very special place to women in our society and if they simply follow those rules and they won’t need to compare themselves to vulgar western culture. Stop this unnecessary waste of time and government resources.
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NYS Feb 06, 2025 05:05pm
Women March Any benefit
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Laila Feb 06, 2025 05:42pm
@Amir Shah You ask questions and answer them yourselves with your own prejudices. On "behalf of western countries"? Really so women's groups in the entire world marches annually on behalf of Western world? Protests for Palestine is also "vulgar western culture"? Baseless claims. Instead of making up things, go attend a woman's march or just ask them. Even though they clarified their purpose and goals many times, despite the brain dead awaam being in complete denial thereof. Yes islam gives women/everybody rights. Pakistani eastern vulgar culture and society takes away those rights and have successfully kept women in the dark about those rights for decades (if not centuries if you want to talk pre partition). Maybe if those in power, men and mullahs start giving women their basic islamic rights, there really won't be a need for women marching. Until then women (and men) will march across the world and there is nothing you can do about it. Protesting is universal. West, East North, South don't own this.
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Laila Feb 06, 2025 05:46pm
@Dr Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Unlike PTI, women's groups like Aurat March are not a political or other party. They are a voluntary social activist rights group. Only the courts can answer why they are not granted permission. The two cases are not comparable. You can contact the court directly to get their verdict/reason.
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waqas Feb 07, 2025 12:15pm
its a very good decision . every one has the right to express . very well covered by rana bilal you should give him award
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Taj Ahmad Feb 07, 2025 12:54pm
Our women’s must be respected by all men’s in Pakistan and around the world. Let’s thumbs up to all our women’s from now on.
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