On Monday, the Lahore High Court issued notices to the federal and provincial governments on an application which sought a permanent ban on the upcoming Aurat March for being “anti-state” and “un-Islamic”.
“Prima facie the Aurat March is misdirection and a failed attempt to raise grave issues commonly faced by women,” claimed the applicant, Advocate Azhar Siddique.
The petitioner highlighted that once again thousands of women will march with placards displaying ‘Vulgar’ messages that will manifest anarchy.
Siddique further added that “the basic purpose of Women’s Day was to recognize and appreciate women for their achievements as well as to express solidarity with women struggling all over the world against cruelty, discrimination, ignorance and domestic violence.”
The petition also termed the march “against the very norms of Islam” and that its hidden agenda is to spread “anarchy, vulgarity and hatred”.
The petition further requests the LHC to “silence the advertisement of Aurat March on social media and to regulate protests such as the Aurat March”.
Previously at the Aurat March, certain slogans raised arguments on social media. Women marching with posters went viral and were further heavily criticized.
