LHC allows organisers to hold Aurat March

Participants can march from NADRA office in Shimla Pahari to Faletti’s hotel

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday allowed the Aurat March organisers to hold the march on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8.

Justice Anwaar Hussain remarked that the march could be held from the NADRA office in Shimla Pahari to Faletti’s hotel from 1:30 pm to 6 pm.

The court directed the march’s organisers to not invite any guest of a specific sect and restrained them from uploading any controversial statements on social media. The court also disposed of the petition.

During the proceedings earlier today, Justice Hussain ordered the organisers of Aurat March to hold a meeting with the deputy commissioner (DC) and decide on a venue for the event.

Previously, the LHC had summoned the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police (SP) security of the provincial capital on Tuesday on a plea challenging the DC's order wherein she had declined permission to hold the Aurat March on March 8.

Petitioners Khawar Mumtaz, Leena Ghani and Hiba Akbar had filed the application in which the Lahore DC, Punjab government through its chief secretary, capital city police officer (CCPO) and the National Commission for Human Rights through its Punjab member were made respondents.

The petitioners implored that the impugned order was "an arbitrary and colourable exercise of power" and requested the court to strike it down.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2023.