Aurat March: Thousands hit streets for gender equality
Women, together with the transgender community, non-binary folks and men, rallied across the country on Sunday participating in an event known as Aurat March to mark the International Women’s Day as they joined the global call for gender equality.
Organised by a diverse group of individuals across class, sexuality and ability, Aurat March gatherings and rallies were held in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Multan, Sukkur, Hyderabad and other cities to highlight the plight of women and other gender minorities.
The participants delivered hard-hitting speeches and held placards and banners displaying thought-provoking slogans to raise the pressing issues of gender-based violence including sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, deep-rooted misogyny and the patriarchal mindset prevalent in the society.
The country saw its first Aurat March in 2018 in Karachi. Last year it was extended to including Lahore, Multan and Hyderabad among other cities. This time, women took to the streets in large number in Quetta and Sukkur.
In Karachi, hundreds flooded the Frere Hall garden for the march despite the beating sun.
Celebrated dancer and founder of the Tehreek-e-Niswan Sheema Kirmani, actor Samina Ahmed, PPP-Shaheed Bhutto leader Ghinwa Bhutto and Sindh government spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab were among the prominent figures who participated in the event. Wahab had arrived there with his family.
At the entrance, Sindh police commandos, helped by dozens of volunteers, refused entry to men unaccompanied by women, in order to prevent any untoward incidents. Meanwhile, as a precaution against coronavirus, safety masks were handed out to all entrants, arranged by the South deputy commissioner.
Participants carrying placards and banners shouted slogans focusing on the rights of various communities, and particularly pointing out the importance of choice and freedom.
The marchers in Lahore gathered outside press club. A massive crowd of around 3,000 people from different walks of rallied through Egerton Road to Aiwan-e-Iqbal.
The participants delivered fiery speeches against cruelty on women, delay in dispensation of justice to them, a discriminatory system faced by them and for their freedom of expression along with several other issues.
Nighat Dad, one of the organisers of Aurat March, said the slogans raised by the participants were not controversial and should be taken in a broader sense.
The authorities had made strict security arrangements to avoid any unpleasant incident. Senior police officers were present on the occasion to supervise the security arrangements.
In Islamabad, a large number of marchers gathered outside the National Press Club, where students of Jamia Hafsa and activists and supporters of religious organisations also gathered to stage a counter-rally titled 'Haya March’.
Despite the police placing tents to create a barrier between the two rallies, the male participants of Haya March attacked the other side with bricks, stones and shoes. At least one participant of Aurat March was injured before the police were able to bring the situation under control.
The organisers of Islamabad's Aurat March expressed their disappointment over the lack of security promised to them by the authorities. “Where is the security that was promised? Where was the police that was promised?” they tweeted.
“Strongly condemn the stoning and violence against peaceful gathering of women, men and families in #AuratMarch2020. Our religion teaches tolerance and Sabr. It does not allow throwing stones and sticks at unarmed people one disagrees with. Can disagree with them but violence is unacceptable," she wrote.
However, she lauded the police for "handling a difficult situation promptly and effectively”.
The Women’s Alliance organised Aurat March in Quetta outside the press club.
The marchers demanded equal rights for the women and vowed to continue fight against harassment and acid attacks.
In Multan, the marchers gathered outside the press club carrying placards and banners and chanting slogans demanding gender equality.
A rally was also held in the city on Saturday night where the participants carried torches.
Like other provinces, Khyber-Pakhtunkhuwa also witnessed a multitude of participants demanding equal rights for women.
Although the idea of women’s rights has ruffled the feathers of certain religio-political organisations, who have taken to the streets deeming the procession ‘against the spirit of Islam’ and calling for its termination, it has also garnered widespread support throughout the country.
Most notably the prime minister, the president and chief of army staff, in their separate messages, showcased their solidarity with the movement and pledged to ensure the rights of women and provide them with equal opportunities in all fields.
In a statement, Prime Minister Imran Khan said: “The observance of International Women’s Day today is reiteration of our commitment to undertake every possible effort to ensure equal rights and opportunities to our women. In this effort we are guided by the teachings of our religion, the Seerat of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the core values that distinguish our society.”
“I firmly believe that an inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development can only be ensured by providing equal opportunities and a conducive environment to our women. I reaffirm my pledge on this day to take all measures that would help our women to lead a safe, secure and prosperous life,” the premier concluded.
Taking to Twitter, President Dr Arif Alvi emphasised ensuring equal opportunities for women in education, health and jobs, besides ensuring their rights of inheritance, safety in all spaces, and no harassment or violence.
Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tribute to the country's women for playing a "pivotal role in nation-building".
“Our tribute to all women of Pakistan, who have played pivotal role in nation-building in all segments of our society. Our brave mothers, sisters, daughters especially our martyrs’ families and those serving in armed forces are pride of our nation," he said in his message tweeted by military spokesperson Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, in his message from London, said his party had always taken steps for the protection and promotion of women.
“If we are given the opportunity to be in the government again, we will take historic steps for women's education, health and economic betterment,” he added.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said women in Pakistan had been on the forefront of every struggle, against every tyrant.
“Today they march not just for themselves, but for generations to come. So proud to have been raised by the strongest most empowered woman [Benazir Bhutto]. She remains my guiding light,” he tweeted.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi wished everyone a, “Happy Women’s Day today and everyday,” on his Twitter handle. He also praised the plethora of strong females in his life adding, “May women soar to every height.”
The foreign affairs ministry soon followed suit as its spokesperson, Aisha Farooqui, after quoting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, paid tribute to Pakistani women, “…whose hard work is contributing towards Nation’s growth and development in every walk of life.”
Theme for 2020: Equality
“An equal world is an enabled world.”
The theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”, is aligned with United Nation Women’s new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls, everywhere.
“The emerging global consensus is that despite some progress, real change has been agonisingly slow for the majority of women and girls in the world,” reads a statement by the UN. “Today, not a single country can claim to have achieved gender equality.”
“Multiple obstacles remain unchanged in law and in culture. Women and girls continue to be undervalued; they work more and earn less and have fewer choices; and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces,” it noted “Furthermore, there is a significant threat of rollback of hard-won feminist gains.”
UN says the year 2020 represents an unmissable opportunity to mobilise global action to achieve gender equality and human rights of all women and girls. (With additional input from our correspondents in Quetta, Sukkur and Multan)