JUI-F warns it will stop Aurat march with sticks

Takes out rally from D-Chowk to Parliament House in solidarity with Muskaan Khan

ISLAMABAD:

Participants of a Hijab March in the federal capital on Friday warned that they would not allow the spread of indecency in the name of women’s rights, vowing to resist the Aurat march with sticks on March 8, the International Women’s Day.

The Hijab march was organised by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) from D-Chowk to Parliament House in solidarity with Indian Muslim girl Muskaan Khan, who braved the Indian goons in face of anti-Hijab slogans. The marchers, wearing Burqa and Hijab, carried flags and placards inscribed with different slogans.

Addressing the marchers, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that demonstrations were being held across the country on ‘Hijab day’. He also mentioned Hijab ban in India, saying that the Indian Muslims, especially women, were making sacrifices to defend Hijab.

Read: Qadri urges PM to ban ‘anti-Islam slogans’ during ’Aurat March’

Expressing solidarity with them, he added, “Today, the true face of India has been exposed.” He condemned the goons belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bhartya Janata Party (BJP) for distorting the secular face of their country.

“Every day in India, houses are set on fire and Muslims are raped. This is the face of India. I want to ask human rights defenders, ‘are you blind?’ Muslim girls are being persecuted in India,” Haideri said.

He praised the bravery of Muslim girl Muskaan who raised the slogan of Allah-o-Akbar in front of a Hindu mob. “Hindu youth stopped because of Muskan,” he said, urging the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take steps in this regard.

JUI-F member of the National Assembly (MNA) Shahida Akhtar Ali said that every city of Pakistan had stood up for the sanctity of Hijab. “We demand of the government to raise its voice at the OIC platform for the protection of Hijab,” she said.

JUI-F Islamabad leader Abdul Majeed Hazarawi said that indecency was spread in the name of women’s rights. “If any attempt is made in Islamabad on March 8, we will resist it.”

He warned the government, saying: “If this march is brought out on March 8, we will stop it with sticks.”

Another JUI-F MNA Alia Kamran said that it was very easy to identify Muslim women because they wore Hijab. She also praised the bravery of Muskan Khan. “I salute all my sisters, including Muskan Khan, who uphold wearing Hijab. Hijab is the pride and identity of women,” she added.