Federal Minister for Religious and Minority Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan asking to put a ban on the Aurat March.
Qadri, in a letter to the premier, wrote that March 8 should be observed as “International Hijaab Day” rather than Aurat March.
The federal minister further stated that no one should be permitted to mock Islamic rituals, values, or the wearing of Hijaab on Women’s Day by organising Aurat March or any other event.
It is pertinent to mention here that every year on March 8, the world observes “Women’s Day” while women activists and other organisations in Pakistan refer to this day as Aurat March.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman, taking to Twitter and sharing the letter from the federal minister to the PM Khan regarding the ban of Aurat March, questioned: “What will you prove by banning Aurat March?”
“International Women’s Day is named after women of all classes. International Women’s Day aims to raise awareness in the society against gender stereotypes and prejudices against women,” said the PPP leader.
“You are conspiring to deprive women of their freedom and rights on International Women’s Day,” tweeted Rehman.