The Sindh government has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Aurat March Karachi for a planned gathering at Sea View on Sunday, May 10, with 28 conditions pertaining to slogans, banners, speeches and what participants can wear.

The march is scheduled at Sea View from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Mother’s Day, which falls on the second Sunday of every May.

South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javed Nabi Khoso signed the NOC, dated May 8, authorising the event as an “Aurat March in commemoration of Mother’s Day”.

The certificate referenced a no-objection letter by the South senior superintendent of police to the DC on May 4 — the day after Aurat March wrote to ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari.

The certificate banned “anti-state slogans, banners, speeches or activities” as well as “anti-religion slogans, placards or objectionable remarks”. It went on to prohibit the display of “hateful, provocative, unethical or anti-social content” at the event.

Participants were also barred from wearing “objectionable clothing” and from carrying out any “promotion for the LGBTQ” community, which the NOC explicitly states includes transgender persons.

Speakers at the event cannot deliver any speech “against the ideology of Pakistan or policies of the state”, speak against the armed forces or spread “hatred among communities and extremism”.

The NOC also bans “sectarian or objectionable activity or speech” that causes or creates hatred among various groups or may provoke or injure the feelings of the people.

The certificate strictly prohibits participation, support or representation by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, both listed as proscribed organisations.

The NOC lays out an extensive list of security obligations for the organisers as Aurat March Karachi must deploy volunteers to physically search all participants and ensure they pass through walkthrough gates, alongside the use of metal and explosive detectors.

Bomb disposal squad is also required to carry out a technical sweep of the premises and hand the venue over to organisers before the event begins.

Under the conditions, parking must be established at least 200 yards from the main venue, volunteers must be deployed for smooth parking management, and all vehicles entering the parking area are to be thoroughly scanned and searched.

Organisers must also confine entry and exit points to one location, strictly follow the Loudspeakers Ordinance, ensure no obstruction to traffic on main roads and thoroughfares, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies and the district administration throughout the event.

The NOC further requires organisers to brief police officials concerned about the “complete nature of the event” and to share a full list of volunteers with them.

The certificate places complete responsibility for any law and order situation on Aurat March Karachi, stating the organisation will “face the legal consequences at own risk and cost” in case of any mishap, route disputes or security.

It also gives police and the district administration broad authority over the event, directing organisers to follow their instructions “in letter and in spirit”, saying that authorities reserve the right to change the route or venue if required or ask organisers to wind up the programme before time.

The NOC also states that all participants and organisers “shall ensure peaceful conduct” throughout the march, that they are “bound to comply with all laws in force”, and that they are responsible for the “internal cordon security of the participants”.

Aerial firing and the use of drugs or alcohol are prohibited.

While the permission, the NOC warns, could be cancelled “without assigning any reason”, it came after a difficult week for the organisers. Last Sunday, Aurat March Karachi said it had sent a letter to Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari after receiving “no response” to their request to relevant offices for an NOC.

A press conference the group had planned for Wednesday was also disrupted when several organisers were detained.