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I wanted to find out why the Aurat March is so controversial, so I attended it

I wanted to find out why the Aurat March is so controversial, so I attended it

After visiting the annual march in Islamabad, I cannot comprehend why it’s construed as a big threat to social or moral order.
12 Mar, 2025

The Aurat March has evolved into a flashpoint for political controversy and social debate, but with so little reliable commentary available online, my curiosity about it had been growing. I wanted to get a better understanding of what was happening, so this year, I decided to attend in person in Islamabad on March 8.

So I went, hoping to take part, only to be met by a plethora of policemen at the spot. The area was barricaded. Most of it had to be observed from a slight distance, as it was harder to get near the people who had already gathered there.

I found out that the organisers had not obtained a No Objection Certificate from the government this year and that two of the main roads — Garden Road and China Chowk, the two main entrances to the National Press Club — had been closed.

 Photo by the author
Photo by the author

The closure of the roads, along with the non-issuance of the NOC, was an overreaction by the state, in my opinion, and let me explain why that is.

I think that the public reaction to the somewhat unsettling — by conservative Pakistani standards — slogans at previous marches, along with the current paranoia of the government against any kind of activism, culminated in such a blockade for the marchers.

Nevertheless, there were people in the press club ground — not many, though, maybe around 50 or more — who remained as part of the protest. The police maintained a circle around them while they chanted slogans and held their placards. At times, their voices were drowned out by another minor protest taking place right next to them, calling for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. There was essentially a barrier and barbed wire between these two protests as well, with a dozen policemen standing guard.

 Photo by the author
Photo by the author

The theme of the protest was not limited to women’s rights. There were a wide variety of slogans on topics ranging from gender roles to ethnic violence. It was more of a leftist protest in general, for human rights and against a state that is becoming more authoritarian and patriarchal in nature.

In all fairness, I consider the values being advocated for to be common sense, and they can be considered “controversial” only in a hard right-wing society like ours where anything that deviates from the status quo gets stigmatised as “liberal.”

The reactions that have flowed in from the public both in the past and now (even though the protest was much smaller this time), are knee-jerk and overinflated. The protesters’ point — that the state and society are extremely patriarchal — is valid, and these reactions only prove that.

You can go to the Instagram page of the Aurat March Islamabad to see some pictures of this protest, the banners, and the setting. If you have any decent amount of exposure to global politics, you’ll easily see that this level of socio-political activity is widely acceptable, even within educational institutes in most parts of the world.

I cannot comprehend why it’s construed as a big threat to social or moral order. It is a threat only because the current order is extremely anti-dissent. If we analyse the demands and nature of the protest itself, nothing stands out as significantly alarming or over-the-top.

But let’s talk about the criticisms of Aurat March. I know the usual ones very well — it does not represent the wide variety of oppressed women in Pakistan and their issues, the protest is overtly run by liberal women, the slogans are not appropriate given the current mindset of the people and the setting we are in, and so on.

To all these criticisms, I would say that they completely miss the point and fail to read the room. Of course there isn’t a wide variety of women from diverse backgrounds participating in the Aurat March — precisely because Pakistan is a patriarchal society, and women from more rural or conservative backgrounds would never dare join such an event even if they wanted to.

That naturally leaves the more urban ones willing and able to join such a protest. Secondly, it is run by ‘liberal’ women because they have the experience and connections needed for activism. Given the strong strain of elitism in Pakistani society at large, it’s no wonder that such events start from the top and not the other way around. I believe that positive change should be welcome, no matter where it comes from.

And lastly, as far as ‘appropriateness’ is concerned, that too is no major concern. The reason is that the other side — namely, the patriarchal elite — does not care about appropriateness when it represses dissident voices. We should not water down our expressions to appease the other side if the same civility is not reciprocated. Of course, some people might disagree here, but I believe that the patriarchy wants us to compromise precisely because that gives them the edge. And I see no point in doing so.

As philosophers like Foucault have already noted, much of what comes off as a moral code established by those in power is nothing more than a mechanism for them to discipline and punish those who show dissent. Power needs to be met with power on the same level, even if the beginnings are benign.

I believe that’s all there is to the Aurat March. It is a great initiative in a damaged society, and that explains the stark reactions from the public and the state. I’d love to see more of it and related activism, as political engagement is crucial in a country where most political doors are shut to the common person and many overlook the broader socio-political impact of their actions.

Comments

Ahmed Mar 12, 2025 10:05am
It's an initiative that has no purpose and would achieve nothing. Typical half analysis. Why not look at all of it. Why only at the stuff that everyone agrees on.
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Faisal asghar Mar 12, 2025 10:27am
Good write up.
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Taj Ahmad Mar 12, 2025 10:50am
Our women’s are strong, remember unity is strength-united we stand.
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Adnan Raja Mar 12, 2025 10:51am
I have been to 2 Aurat Marches. I was a member of Aurat Foundation. But when I attended those marches all I saw were girls obviously from a priveleged background shouting slogans and holding placards basically against men's physical body in a very vulgar display. You're right, no woman from poor villages were there. I even asked one of the female leaders, where are the poor women who actually suffer? Her answer with a smile was "she's at home cleaning my toilet." So this nonsense is nothing but a bunch of spoiled rich girls trying to get publicity. Cheers.
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Huzaifa Mar 12, 2025 11:43am
Why so silent when it comes to speaking up for women massacred in gaza and for Aafia Siddique?
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 12, 2025 12:05pm
United we stand, divided we fall.
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Jawad Ullah Mar 12, 2025 12:15pm
The way women destroyed their own cause by acting in a manner not compatible to our socio-religious norms, but of feminism which has nothing to do with women rights or gender balance. If they act a bit rationally things will be better I am sure
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Syed Irfan Ali Mar 12, 2025 12:35pm
Spot on.
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Laila Mar 12, 2025 02:46pm
Well the opponents will never attend but ignore AMs detailed publically available manifestos and stop women of their household from attending - while at the same time accuse AM of foreign funding and agenda, being elitist and not representative (without proof of course). Its about as hypocritical as it can get. Opponents demands instant change knowing very well it takes time, but no such demand from our useless foreign funded corrupt governments. They prefer to decry the imaginary harsh by birth naseeb' of females but stay totally passive and deny rights even to females in their own families/homes. Yet they want to tell women how/what they can protest. What's even strange is they don't want others to bring awareness or fight for those rights either. None of these opponents have every marched, publicly protested or demanded rights for females. Not once. But since the first AM in 2018 they have been going mental telling, in denial claiming women have all rights in islam. Yes, islam gives rights Pakistani society deprives rights. This in a nutshell is why Pakistan can't progress, only regress. The cycle of denial, ignorance, misogyny and patriarchy will take centuries to dismantle. Until then we can pretend it's all about naseeb' and womens rights are a foreign concept and continue the cycle of abuse and oppression.
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Laila Mar 12, 2025 02:55pm
@Jawad Ullah, But why did you and your ilk not guide women for the decades Pakistan has existed and help them in their cause? Why don't women have rights in Pakistan built for Muslims in name of Islam? Why was AM 2018 the wake-up call? Also our society/cultures norms are at odds with Islam. That's why even islamic rights and islamic norms of 7th century will be deemed "modern, liberal, inappropriate, immoral, western, feminist" by Pakistanis. Such is the veil of delusion, ignorance and denial. Islam gave rights. Pakistans society and misguided patriarchal misogynist hinduana culture refuses those rights.
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Anonymouseee Mar 12, 2025 02:56pm
The west trying its best to Divide the local population yet again. These women unfortunately don’t realize this and have diverted from our religion’s path.
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Laila Mar 12, 2025 02:59pm
@Huzaifa Why are you so silent when it comes to one International Women's Day that you have to deflect attention with Gaza and Aafia Siddiqui? You never mentioned Aafia or protest outside the parliament against the government, army, intelligence etc who handed over Aafia to the US? Stay on topic. Everybody has been loud about Gaza. This is about AM and womens rights.
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Laila Mar 12, 2025 03:05pm
@Adnan Raja The source of anecdotes in an anonymous comments are very credible. Lets assume you are being truthful, then why didn't you challenge her back? Why not record her? Expose them? Maybe because it didn't happen. Also most middle-class and poor families won't allow their females to attend. You know this very well. Most females aren't even free to protest.
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Syed Hashim Gillani Mar 12, 2025 04:45pm
I am all in for equality, we should practise it in every aspect of life but this event/initiative is nothing but a Sensationalist's dream unfortunately.
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JAMIL SOOMRO Mar 12, 2025 05:37pm
@ Adnan Raja What a bizarre and bogus comment. Don't you know that Auraat March in Pakistan is carried out by the educated girls(women) and not village women.? And to top it all an educated woman told you about a poor woman that she was at home cleaning her toilet.? How ironic.?
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Ishrat Hyatt Mar 12, 2025 05:58pm
Three cheers - well expressed! I hope the movement manages to grow despite the clamp down on a government threatened by a few women!
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Ehsan Mar 12, 2025 07:00pm
We are sacred of women
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Laila Mar 12, 2025 08:01pm
@Adnan Raja Let me guess. No name of the AM "leader" you allegedly asked? No recording with your smartphone. No selfie photos at AM. You didnt challenge the alleged woman's alleged views with critical questions? You have no proof of such a conversation taking place. Presumably because it never happened. Also abuse, deprivation of rights and oppressions is not limited to one social class. "Spoiled rich girls" and "priveleged girls" are not immune to that. Most nonsense argument. But if you genuinely want more average females present, why not allow your female family members to attend? You can't have it both ways. Also one way you can change AM to be more representative is by increasing your participation and hold placards with the issues you think are important for our females, minorities, Afghan refugees etc. Its not like AM owns International Women's Day.
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Ali Mar 12, 2025 11:28pm
women's rights are even important in those societies where patriarchal culture are dominant; however, women should not go beyond the basic rights mentioned in Islamic teachings.
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Allaisa Mar 12, 2025 11:40pm
You are not even allowed to have an Aurat March yet you lecture India about democracy when it bans terrorist organization in Kashmir. Physician, heal thyself.
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Rizwan Mar 12, 2025 11:43pm
Completely ignores the slogans raised by the participants. Anyways it is dying its own death. JI women organize much larger and disciplined rallies than this
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M. Saeed Mar 12, 2025 11:49pm
Our custodians of religion are always divinely afraid of the second renaissance of the women lot because of......their own fears!
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Naveed Mar 13, 2025 01:16am
Rulers of Pakistan are afraid of Aurat demanding their legitimate rights, in fact they are scared of every one asking for their legitimate rights. The reason is this government is illegitimate and immoral.
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Dr Abdul Malik Mar 13, 2025 08:29am
The latest Gender Gap Index tells loud and clear the almost lowest status of our womenfolk. Please wake up if you love your partners-in-life, your mothers, your daughters and your sisters.
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Queen Mar 13, 2025 08:45am
Well if you think parading on streets with sanitary napkins soaked in red ink plastered on chart paper and crying out slogans like "menstruation is not taboo" gives women "rights," then sorry, it does not. This is what happened at Aurat March Karachi last year. This is not women rights, not our culture, and majority of women do not condone it.
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Ahmed Mar 13, 2025 10:43am
@Dr Abdul Malik What has that to do with aurat march? No one denies that women suffer in Pakistan. But why are women right related to Aurat March
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Laila Mar 13, 2025 03:43pm
@Anonymouseee The West need not divide Pakistanis, already divided for centuries by sectarianism, classicism, gender, casteism, regional politics, corruption. Our society/culture is as far removed from Islam as can be. Otherwise all Pakistanis and it's females would have their legal and islamic rights. The West does not own human rights or protest.
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Laila Mar 13, 2025 03:55pm
Hello Sameer/Images I read your article with great interest especially as you are a man and because I myself have never attended this march. Some feedback. Next time could you interview your fellow attendees or share more of your on site observations/conversations. The recent increased intimidation and restrictions imposed to keep women from attending also needs highlighting. Also a photo series of the march could serve as a separate article. Interviews with founders, organisers, repeat and new attendees, and supporters could serve as an article series. A list of the projects they have initiated and links to donations or funding collections. Seeing as there is AM coming up in May, this should be possible.
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Saman Yazdani Khan Mar 13, 2025 10:33pm
Execellent write up
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Sameer Sohail Mar 13, 2025 10:39pm
@Laila Thank you for your time on my article and the thoughtful replies. Finally some sane voice.
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