Netizens are outraged as Aurat March Faisalabad was canceled reportedly due to administrative pressure. The march organized by students and teachers was to ‘stand in solidarity with all women seeking justice and demanding their rightful place in society.’
This was one of many protests staged nationwide as people protested three brutal cases of femicide.
https://twitter.com/FaisalabadMarch/status/1420789265995386883
People are calling this an attempt to further silence women’s voices. AC Faisalabad allegedly did not give the organizers permission to march. Organizers had applied to the district administration to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC).
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Subsequently, an online campaign against Assistant Commissioner Faisalabad is going strong. Even Amnesty International took note of the issue.
PAKISTAN: Amnesty International notes with serious concern the government’s decision to bar the #AuratMarch protest in Faisalabad yesterday. The right to peaceful assembly is protected by all major human rights conventions and the Constitution of Pakistan. [1/2]
— Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) August 2, 2021
Human rights and political activist Ammar Ali Jan shared why the event was canceled.
“Assistant commissioner Faisalabad threatened to arrest organisers and called young female students to intimidate them, … It’s a blatant example of how the state suppresses women’s movements.”
Today's Aurat March in Faisalabad has been cancelled. Assistant Commissioner Faisalabad threatened to arrest organizers and called young female students to intimidate them. Its a blatant example of how the state suppresses women's movements.#ShameonACFaisalabad #JusticeForNoor
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) August 1, 2021
As the citizens’ right to protest and march was violated Netizens were infuriated. One person even highlighted how AC Faisalabad…
“During the hour long meetings he repeatedly said ‘rape does not happen without consent these days‘ and ‘women aren’t this oppressed in Pakistan'”.
AC Faisalabad today coerced the @FaisalabadMarch organisersto postpone the the event. During the hours long meeting he repeatedly said “rape aaj kal consent k baghyr nahi ho skta” “Pakistan mei aurat itni bhi mazloom nahi”
— Ali Sajjad (@alisajjadnaqvi) August 1, 2021
#ShameOnACFaisalabad is going strong as people call for action against the violation of their constitutional right to protest.
Women were not allowed to protest against the brutal murder of Noor Muqaddam in Faislabad today because AC thought it was Noor’s fault somehow that she was murdered. He not only refused to grant NOC but threatened of grave consequences if the protest was held. Let that sink in!
— Salman Sikandar (@salmansikandar_) August 1, 2021
https://twitter.com/HagryphusRex/status/1421826123386789888
https://twitter.com/gehribatain/status/1421806348119990277
https://twitter.com/malaikaarif01/status/1421803608107065351
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Especially with the statistics on violence against women in Faisalabad.
Human right watch reported that at least 66 women were murdered in Faisalabad district in the first six months of 2018, the majority in the name of “honor.” Faisalabad is one of the cities where women are the most vulnerable to abuse.#shameonacfaisalabad#JusticeForNoor
— Asad Khan (@asad_salarzai1) August 2, 2021
Among other efforts for enforcement of women’s rights as citizens, organizers of Aurat March Faisalabad had posted a charter of demands online calling for an end to all forms of gender-based violence. Especially violence against women, and other gender minorities by the systemic patriarchy.
https://twitter.com/1w32s/status/1421804969607536644
https://twitter.com/so_difoucault/status/1421917619918151686
