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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.