The Lahore High Court has accepted Judicial Activism Council Chairman Azhar Siddique’s petition to ban the Aurat March.
According to reports, LHC has summoned Additional Director Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency and Deputy Inspector General Operations on February 27 in this regard.
The petitioner Azhar Siddique has claimed that the Aurat March is a foreign conspiracy.
“There are various anti-state parties present who are funding this Aurat March with the sole purpose of spreading anarchy amongst the masses.”
He also objected to certain placards held at the march iterating that the march is “against the very norms of Islam” adding that it has a hidden agenda to spread “anarchy, vulgarity, and hatred.”
“During last year’s Aurat March, women were holding placards that had objectionable messages,” read the petition.
LHC directed the federal government lawyer to seek instructions from the Ministry of Interior and inform the court about what can be done in this regard.
The Judicial Activism Council Chairman has previously attempted to file an FIR (first information report) against women holding “objectionable placards” at the march. He had submitted an application to the Capital City Police Office (CCPO) Lahore. However, the police did not take any action.
Azhar had also submitted another application to enforce the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and Citizen Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020 against the Aurat March and demanded to “stop the promotion of anti-state activities such as Aurat March on social media.”
The Aurat March is organised every year on International Women’s Day. This year the march is scheduled for March 8. Last year, women from all across Pakistan came together to participate in the Aurat March 2019.
