The Aurat March organizers are demanding a public holiday on a Saturday. They want International Women’s Day on March 8 to be declared a national public holiday.
Leading the charge were prominent social activists, including Dr. Farzana Bari, Huda Burghari, Nishat Maryam, Zainab Jamil, and Jiya Jaggi. They presented a comprehensive set of demands aimed at addressing pressing issues of human rights, social justice, and environmental concerns.
At the heart of their message was a call for the government to recognize gender-based violence as a national emergency.
They urged the state to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of patriarchal violence, highlighting the urgent need to eradicate child marriages and enforce existing laws against violence. They also pushed for the full implementation of the Transgender Rights Protection Act.
The activists didn’t stop there. They stressed the importance of safeguarding the rights of religious minorities, demanding equal opportunities in employment, education, and healthcare. They called for immediate amendments to blasphemy laws to prevent misuse and an end to the persecution of Christian, Hindu, Shia, and Ahmadi communities, ensuring their social, political, and economic rights.
Criticism was also directed at the restrictions placed on their peaceful gatherings. The organizers condemned the denial of their right to assemble and the constant threats and harassment they face.
They expressed frustration over the repeated obstacles in obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) for their events since 2020 and firmly rejected the proposal to relocate the march from the National Press Club to the Parade Ground, which is primarily used for military activities. They demanded that NOCs be issued for all current and future Women’s March activities without obstruction.
Concluding their press conference, the organizers reiterated their commitment to gender justice, minority rights, and the freedom to assemble peacefully without state interference.
They emphasized that the Women’s Aurat March remains an independent, non-partisan, and intersectional feminist movement dedicated to upholding fundamental rights and freedoms in Pakistan.
