Notices have been issued to the provincial government and other concerned parties by Sindh High Court (SHC) in the light of a petition filed against this year’s Aurat March.
Aurat March was held on March 8 on International Women’s Day. The petition was filed by women lawyers who deemed the movement damaging to society, adding that the “dance and nudity were being promoted in the name of women’s freedom, and organisations such as the Arts Council were allowing it to happen”.
A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice SHC Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi heard the case, filed before March 8.
While the court affirmed that under Islamic Law, women have freedom, it nonetheless stated that certain negative acts can be detrimental to society.
The petitioners highlighted that Aurat March is held at cultural centres and parks and similar events should be stopped.
The SHC then issued notices to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the federal and provincial governments, the Arts Council and other organisations linked to Aurat March. The concerned parties have been asked to submit their response by March 19.
