The March of Arat in Islamabad concluded on Saturday afternoon after the police prevented the protesters from proceeding to D-Howk.
Since its inception in 2018, the march of Arat has been held annually throughout the country in or around International Women’s Day, symbolizing a collective feminist tradition of protest and resistance.
One day before the march, the organizers of the March of Arat promised to continue with their planned event in the capital and celebrate the demonstration of the National Press Club (NPC) to D-Chowk despite not receiving a formal permission from the administration. “We will have our program outside the NPC as previous years and we will try to go to D-Chowk to mark the occasion [of International Women’s Day]”, The rights activist, Dr. Farzana Bari, had told her Dawn.com last night.
The protesters gathered outside the NPC today with posters, banners and megaphones.
As part of the demonstration, empty beds were placed in the protest field, with attached signs that said “women’s rights” and “democracy”, which symbolize their absence in the country. The protesters also sang slogans while they beat the drums and the byas.
Simultaneously, a demonstration that demands the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist who fulfilled a prison sentence in the United States, took place in the same place as the march of Arat.
TO Dawn.com The correspondent present in the scene reported that when the protesters tried to move towards D-Cowk from the NPC, the police requested reinforcements and blocked the main roads. As a result, the march was canceled.
Talking with Dawn.comBari said the organizers did not obtain the non -objection certificate (NO) “as always.”
Referring to the protest for the launch of Aafia, Bari added: “Those people there have an available sound system, while the car carrying ours was carried.
“Every time we celebrate Women’s Day every year, we celebrate in challenging circumstances and receive many threats. We celebrated in a fearful climate, ”he lamented. “It is by force and courage of women that we can carry out this march, even in Ramazan.”
When asked if the meeting was over, Bari responded affirmatively and added that the roads to D-Howk had been blocked. “Many people went home because they couldn’t find a way,” he said, adding that they wounded either because many of the attendees were fasting.
“Our demands are the same as those we have done in recent years because they never apply,” said Bari. “This year, we have told the State that if they do not prioritize the 120 million women of Pakistan and their health, education and security, then more will be disconnected from the State.
“Therefore, it is essential to understand that if women become independent and free, then the nation will also be.”
According to a publication on the Instagram page of Aurrat March, this year it marked the first time the march will take place on different dates throughout the country.
“This year, the marches in Lahore, fine, Karachi and, for the first time, Mirpur Khas will take place with the same passion but in newer appointments,” the post said, adding that the marches in Karachi and Mirpur Khas will take place on May 11.
On February 12, hundreds of women participated in the March of Arat in Lahore, demanding freedom and social justice for women.
The march began at the Lahore Press Club and culminated in front of the Pia building. Women from different areas of life participated in the march, transporting banners and banners and demanding justice and equality.
The protesters sang slogans as “Siyasat, Muzahamat Aur Azadi“(Politics, resistance and freedom), and”Ghar Ka Kaam, Sab Ka Kaam“(Domestic tasks are everyone’s duty).
