{"id":451,"date":"2026-03-18T11:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gold-tapir-911468.hostingersite.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/18\/authorities-push-back-against-international-womens-day-march-in-pakistan\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T13:27:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:27:03","slug":"authorities-push-back-against-international-womens-day-march-in-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/18\/authorities-push-back-against-international-womens-day-march-in-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Authorities push back against International Women\u2019s Day march in Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"
Participants of Aurat March arrive to prepare for the march. Image by Ramna Saeed. Used with permission.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This year, on March 8, International Women\u2019s Day<\/a>, participants of the Islamabad chapter of the Aurat March<\/a> (Women\u2019s March) faced extreme brutality and arrests by the authorities<\/a> after attempting to hold their annual rally in Pakistan\u2019s capital. Organizers from the feminist collective Hum Aurtein<\/a> say police used force to disperse the gathering and arrested more than 35 women, including several well-known activists. Authorities accused the group of violating Section 144<\/a> of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a legal provision that bans public assemblies in designated areas. The detainees were released later<\/a> that evening after nearly 10 hours in custody.<\/p>\n

For the past eight years<\/a>, Aurat March organizers have marked International Women\u2019s Day<\/a> (March 8) with creative demonstrations to raise awareness against patriarchy and advocate for the rights of women and marginalized communities in Pakistan. Over the years, marches have been typically organized in several major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan, where the four chapters are based. While the rallies have often faced pushback<\/a> from authorities and conservative religious groups, organizers say this year\u2019s detentions in Islamabad marked an unusually severe response.<\/p>\n

On the morning of March 8, Aurat March organizers and participants gathered at a supermarket<\/a> in Sector F-6, intending to march toward the Islamabad Press Club located downtown. Before the rally could begin, police detained the group<\/a> and transported them in prison vans. Their mobile phones were confiscated, and they were taken to the Women\u2019s Police Station in G-7. Witnesses said that friends and family members who arrived at the station seeking information about the detainees were also threatened with arrest.<\/p>\n

Global Voices reporter at the scene observed police officers baton-charging people gathered outside the G-7 Women\u2019s Police Station. Anyone standing near the station risked being detained. The area had been placed under heavy security, with a large police presence surrounding the building. And when members of the Global Voices reporting team attempted to document the situation, officers warned that they could also be arrested if they did not leave. Several individuals who tried to approach or enter the station were taken into custody.<\/p>\n

According to a list issued by security authorities, a copy of which was obtained by Global Voices, at least 27 men and 34 women were taken into custody.<\/p>\n

Section 144 imposed in Islamabad<\/h4>\n

Police said the participants were detained for violating<\/a> Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a legal order<\/a> that restricts public gatherings and had been in place in Islamabad since the previous week. Authorities imposed the measure<\/a> after protests erupted following reports that Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in strikes reportedly carried out by Israel and the United States.<\/p>\n

Police also circulated a document stating that Aurat March organizers had been informed in advance about the Section 144 restrictions. However, participants disputed this claim, saying they had not received any such notice. Journalist Azaz Syed shared the document<\/a> on X (formerly Twitter):<\/p>\n

\u0627\u0633\u0644\u0627\u0645 \u0622\u0628\u0627\u062f \u067e\u0648\u0644\u06cc\u0633 \u0646\u06d2 \u06a9\u0644 \u0645\u062d\u062a\u0631\u0645\u06c1 \u0641\u0631\u0632\u0627\u0646\u06c1 \u0628\u0627\u0631\u06cc \u06a9\u0648 \u0634\u06c1\u0631 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u062f\u0641\u0639\u06c1 144 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0628\u0627\u0631\u06d2 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u062e\u0637 \u0644\u06a9\u06be \u06a9\u0631 \u0628\u062a\u0627 \u062f\u06cc\u0627 \u062a\u06be\u0627 \u06d4 \u0628\u06c1\u0631\u062d\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u06af\u0631 \u0627\u0646\u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u0627\u0637\u0644\u0627\u0639 \u062f\u06cc \u06af\u0626\u06cc \u062a\u06be\u06cc \u062a\u0648 \u067e\u0648\u0644\u06cc\u0633 \u0646\u06d2 \u0627\u067e\u0646\u0627 \u06a9\u0627\u0645 \u06a9\u06cc\u0627 \u06d4 \u0645\u06af\u0631 \u06a9\u06cc\u0627 \u0627\u06cc\u06a9 \u0645\u062a\u0646\u0627\u0632\u0639\u06c1 \u06a9\u0631\u062f\u0627\u0631 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0633\u0627\u0645\u0646\u06d2 \u0627\u0646\u062a\u0638\u0627\u0645\u06cc\u06cc\u06c1 \u0627\u0648\u0631 \u067e\u0648\u0644\u06cc\u0633 \u0627\u0641\u0633\u0631\u0627\u0646 \u06a9\u06cc \u067e\u06cc\u0634\u06af\u06cc \u067e\u06cc\u0634\u06cc \u0627\u0648\u0631 \u0627\u0646\u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u06cc\u0642\u06cc\u0646 \u062f\u06c1\u0627\u0646\u06cc\u0627\u06ba \u0627\u06cc\u06a9 \u0645\u0646\u0627\u0633\u0628 \u0639\u0645\u0644 \u06c1\u06d2 \u061f
\n\u2014 Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) March 8, 2026<\/p>\n

The Global Voices team spoke to several people who had been detained outside the G-7 Women\u2019s Police Station. Many said they had been held together in cramped conditions in a single cell. Mavra Bari, a sociologist and activist, said nearly 80 women and children were confined in a small cell with a nonfunctional washroom and little space to sit. She noted that girls as young as 14 were among the detainees and that they were not allowed to contact their families. Bari said she had gone to the station only to check on her mother and sister, not as a march participant, and alleged that police violently snatched phones, pushed and shoved people, and even pulled some women\u2019s hair and clothing. Male allies who accompanied them were beaten with batons, with one suffering fractures.<\/p>\n

According to Bari, the arrests of about 34 women and 34 men took place despite no violation of Section 144, as many were simply outside the station inquiring about detained organizers. \u201cThe treatment was inhumane,\u201d she said, adding that many detainees were released only after signing undertakings related to Section 144. She emphasized that Aurat March is intended as a \u201ccreative celebration of International Women\u2019s Day,\u201d designed to highlight issues such as gender-based violence and the persecution of activists. \u201cThe arrests stood in stark contrast to official messages celebrating women\u2019s rights on the same day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

One woman, who requested anonymity, told Global Voices that detainees were pressured to sign an affidavit containing threatening language. According to her, the document stated that they had caused a \u201cdisturbance to the police\u201d and committed various legal violations, and included a clause requiring them to pledge that they would not participate in similar events again.<\/p>\n

Even journalists were not spared. Those who went to cover the incident and speak with the families of the participants were reportedly detained and manhandled.<\/p>\n

Condemnations<\/h4>\n

Freedom Network, an organization that monitors press freedom violations, issued a statement<\/a> condemning the crackdown on<\/a> both the Aurat March participants and the journalists.<\/p>\n

Aurat March organizers, alongside the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, held a press conference<\/a> at the Islamabad Press Club to protest the police\u2019s handling of the march. They spoke out against the manhandling, threats, and the pressure to sign what they described as unreasonable affidavits. The organizers demanded an investigation into the incident and called for accountability for those responsible.<\/p>\n

During the conference, they acknowledged that Section 144 had been in effect in the federal capital but emphasized that civil society does not accept laws that violate citizens\u2019 fundamental rights. They also said that authorities had warned of a potential suicide bomber threat. Meanwhile, friends and family members who went to the police stations to check on the detainees were reportedly detained themselves and faced threats.<\/p>\n

Human rights activists criticized the government\u2019s response. Nishat Maryam told Global Voices that state pressure around the march has intensified over the years, but this year\u2019s crackdown was unprecedented. She added that it reflected the state\u2019s priorities: \u201cRapists roam freely, yet the state targets unarmed, peaceful protesters. As a woman, I condemn this behavior \u2014 it generates deep anger and frustration,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Syeda Kashamala, a lawyer detained while checking on colleagues, questioned the legality of the arrests. \u201cArticle 16 of the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, while Article 19 protects freedom of expression,\u201d she said, noting that Section 144, a colonial-era provision historically used to curb dissent, restricts public gatherings. \u201cIt is troubling that such a law is still used in a constitutional democracy where assembly is a fundamental right,\u201d Kashamala added. Articles 9 and 10 provide safeguards against arbitrary detention and protect the grounds of arrest.<\/p>\n

Police initially sought to apply Sections 188 and 352<\/a> of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relate to disobedience of orders issued by public servants and interference with government operations. However, after several hours of negotiations between authorities, senior activists, and political representatives, those detained were released after signing a written undertaking.<\/p>\n

The incident was raised in Pakistan\u2019s parliament the following day. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry defended the arrests<\/a>, accusing the march participants of deliberately attempting to create a law-and-order situation. Meanwhile, lawmakers Shazia Marri and Nafeesa Shah of the Pakistan Peoples Party<\/a> (PPP) from the ruling coalition criticized the police response and condemned the treatment of the activists. Journalist Ali Hamza reported this on X:<\/p>\n

\n

PPP lawmakers took on the government in the National Assembly over the detention of Aurat March activists in Islamabad on March 8, questioning police action against protesters on International Women\u2019s Day.@NuktaPakistan<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rtu0Nde8Cb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ali Hamza (@alihamzaisb) March 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The ongoing challenges for Aurat March<\/h4>\n

The march has consistently faced resistance<\/a> from authorities and religious groups in previous years, and this year, the Islamabad chapter experienced an unusually harsh response, creating uncertainty for the other planned Aurat March events for this year.<\/p>\n

Like last year<\/a>, the Aurat March is planned to be held on different dates across different cities. The march is scheduled to be held in Karachi on Mother\u2019s Day on <\/a>May 10.<\/p>\n

However, the Lahore chapter announced on March 8 that it will not hold<\/a> a march this year, due to the observance of the holy month of Ramadan (a holy month for Muslims).<\/p>\n

Laiba Zainab, from the Aurat March Multan chapter, told Global Voices that the organizers are monitoring the ongoing Iran war situation and will announce the march date soon. The march is planned to be dedicated to human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatta, both of whom were sentenced to ten years in prison<\/a> on charges of \u201ccyber terrorism\u201d and spreading<\/a> \u201cfalse information\u201d for posts on the social media platform X, in which they expressed solidarity with Baloch and Pashtun activists and criticized the Pakistan military.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Ramna Saeed<\/a><\/h3>\n

is a Pakistani multimedia journalist covering digital surveillance, gender justice, refugee rights, and freedom of expression in South Asia. She has reported for BBC Urdu, The Diplomat, ARY News, Yeni \u015eafak International, Urdu News Saudi Arabia, and Global Voices. A Diana Award recipient and Pride of Pakistan honoree, she founded She Leads Pakistan to amplify women\u2019s leadership..<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year, on March 8, International Women\u2019s Day, participants of the Islamabad chapter of the Aurat March (Women\u2019s March) faced extreme brutality and arrests by the authorities after attempting to hold their annual rally in Pakistan\u2019s capital. Organizers from the feminist collective Hum Aurtein say police used force to disperse the gathering and arrested more than 35 women, including several well-known activists. Authorities accused the group of violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a legal provision that bans public assemblies in designated areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-451","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-article","8":"category-latest-stories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":485,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451\/revisions\/485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-secularist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}