MINISTER for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Monday condemned those political leaders who were calling on people to “forcibly stop Aurat March”, set to take place on March 8. “Women, like other segments of society, have a right to peacefully protest and demand their rights already enshrined in our Constitution,” Mazari said on Twitter.
For the last two years, controversies surround the Aurat March that takes place on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is observed to further promote and raise awareness of women’s rights and to achieve equal opportunities in all walks of life. There is nothing wrong if March is held to highlight and promote these objectives which every Government and almost all political leaders espouse. As pointed out by the Federal Minister, all segments of the society have a right under the Constitution to engage in peaceful activities to highlight their cause and women are no exception. However, political parties seem to be polarized with the PPP seeking security for the participants and JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman asking his followers to stop the march from taking place. It is understood that the Maulana’s approach is dictated by Islamic standards of decency and propriety but we should not assume that the marchers would necessarily engage in any anti-Islamic activity. In fact, no one needs to be worried about the March and its objectives as already all successive governments and Parliament have contributed significantly to ensure protection of rights of women and their wellbeing. Women can contest elections right from the Union Council to the National Assembly/Senate, they have been holding important decision-making offices including the prestigious office of the Prime Minister, Speakers of legislatures and Federal Ministers. We hope that the marchers would get necessary security and the march itself would remain within the bounds of an Islamic society.
