Space for dissent

Aurat March has, over the years, become one of Pakistan's most visible platforms for debate on women's rights and social justice. Whether or not one agrees with every slogan raised at the march, the broader principle underpinning it must remain beyond dispute, that the right of citizens to peacefully assemble and express their views is fundamental to any democratic society.

This year's Aurat March in Karachi unfolded under tighter scrutiny and amid concerns following the brief detention of women's rights activists earlier in the month. Yet hundreds still gathered at Seaview to raise issues that continue to affect countless women across the country. Among the most poignant moments was the tribute to Shanti, the 19-year-old bride from Lyari whose tragic death after alleged sexual violence reignited difficult but necessary conversations around marital abuse and the silence that often surrounds it. The significance of such gatherings lies in the space they create for conversations society is often reluctant to confront openly. Pakistan's Constitution guarantees both freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly. These rights are not reserved for one class. They belong equally to all citizens, regardless of whether their views are popular or controversial. The state's role, therefore, is not to endorse every message voiced at a public gathering, but to ensure that citizens can exercise their constitutional freedoms safely and responsibly.

At a time when societies around the world are becoming increasingly polarised, Pakistan must avoid reducing every civic movement into a binary contest of loyalty or opposition. Constructive engagement and open discussion ultimately strengthen democratic culture far more than restrictions do. The Aurat March need not command universal agreement to deserve space within the national discourse. A mature society is one that allows differing viewpoints to coexist peacefully under the protection of the law.