Aurat March attendance dips

A relatively low turnout was observed at the Aurat March rally in Lahore. Running from Shimla Pahari to Faletti’s Hotel on Wednesday, the march aimed to demand equal rights for women and oppressed genders on International Women Day.

Unlike previous years, the participants’ strength was thinner.

Simultaneously, The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced the launch of its election campaign and announced a rally which would start from Zaman Park, led by PTI Chief Imran Khan. The Government of Punjab announced the imposition of Section 144 in Lahore, banning public gatherings and rallies, citing security threats and public nuisances for seven days.

As PTI activists were gathering at Zaman Park, police launched a crackdown on them. They also set up barricades and containers along Canal Road, which caused traffic disruption in the surrounding areas, including near the start point of the Aurat March.

The traffic congestion might have contributed to lower turnout, or the horrible images and visuals of clashes between police and PTI activists in the Zaman Park area.

In the days leading up to Aurat March, Deputy Commissioner Lahore denied permission to organisers to hold the March at Nasir Bagh, citing the threat of an attack by a religious party. In response, the organizers approached the Lahore High Court and entered mediation with the district administration.

The venue was relocated and both parties agreed upon a set of terms and conditions before setting up for the march. However, uncertainty regarding whether or not the march would take place also impacted the mobilisation campaign, which likely resulted in the lower turnout.

Aurat March organizers announced the theme “Feminism in times of crisis”, highlighting the plight of vulnerable communities, particularly women and gender minorities, who were adversely affected due to natural disasters caused by climate change.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2023.