The organizers of the Aurat March, along with the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) Lahore, have announced that this year’s Aurat March will be held on February 12, coinciding with Pakistan’s National Women’s Day.
Previously, the Aurat March has been observed on March 8, International Women’s Day, across various cities in Pakistan.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Aurat March Lahore highlighted the significance of February 12, recalling the 1983 protest led by the Punjab Women Lawyer’s Association against the discriminatory Law of Evidence passed during General Zia’s regime. On that day, women gathered on Mall Road in Lahore, facing police brutality and arrests.
“This historic day serves as a reminder that women and marginalized individuals have been at the forefront of resisting oppression long before us, and their fight will persist even after us,” the statement read.
The key demands for this year’s march include halting censorship through firewalls and surveillance technologies, and revising repressive laws such as the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Additionally, the organizers are calling for the effective implementation of existing laws like the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016, survivor-centric restorative justice, and a universal living wage for all workers.
“This year’s march is a celebration of the everyday resistance of women and marginalized groups who continue to demand dignity, justice, and a better world,” the statement emphasized.
Despite the call for the march to take place on February 12, the organizers are facing opposition from local authorities. On Wednesday, the Lahore High Court summoned responses from the Lahore deputy commissioner, chief traffic officer, and operations DG to explain why permission for the march has not been granted. Five women approached the court to initiate contempt proceedings against these officials for failing to process the march application, and for not complying with the court’s 2023 order.
