Netizens are furious after news broke out that Aurat March in Faisalabad was cancelled by authorities, especially the Assistant Commissioner (AC), who allegedly denied permission to organize the rally in the city.
Aurat March was set to take place in Faisalabad on 1 August 2021. However, the event was reportedly cancelled after the District Administration allegedly denied to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Today's Aurat March in Faisalabad has been cancelled. Assistant Commissioner Faisalabad threatened to arrest organizers and called young female students to intimidate them. Its a blatant example of how the state suppresses women's movements.#ShameonACFaisalabad #JusticeForNoor
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) August 1, 2021
According to the details, the Assistant Commissioner (AC) Faisalabad denied permission to organize the Aurat March and threatened to taken severe action against the organizers and participants of the event.
Netizens took to social media and called out authorities for their discriminations against women for denying the right to protest and organize the Aurat March.
It bears mentioning that the Aurat March in Faisalabad was being organized after several rape and murder cases were reported against women across the country, especially Noor Mukadam, who was tortured, killed and then beheaded in Islamabad.
Many Twitter users are criticizing the AC Faisalabad for denying permission to hold the event. “Rape isn’t possible without consent these days.” one user wrote on Twitter. “Women in Pakistan are not oppressed.”
AC Faisalabad today coerced the @FaisalabadMarch organisersto postpone the the event. During the hours long meeting he repeatedly said “rape aaj kal consent k baghyr nahi ho skta” “Pakistan mei aurat itni bhi mazloom nahi”
— Ali Sajjad (@alisajjadnaqvi) August 1, 2021
Meanwhile, there was another user who said that Assistant Commissioner Faisalabad was suggesting that it was Noor Mukadam’s own fault for somehow getting murdered.
Women were not allowed to protest against the brutal murder of Noor Muqaddam in Faislabad today because AC thought it was Noor’s fault somehow that she was murdered. He not only refused to grant NOC but threatened of grave consequences if the protest was held. Let that sink in!
— Salman Sikandar ☭ (@salmansikanda12) August 1, 2021
Amnesty International Calls For Granting Permission
Meanwhile, the Amnesty International has called for authorities to grant permission for the Aurat March in Faisalabad.
“Amnesty International notes with serious concern the government’s decision to bar the Aurat March protest in Faisalabad yesterday. The right to peaceful assembly is protected by all major human rights conventions and the Constitution of Pakistan.” tweeted their official Twitter account.
“We call upon authorities to immediately grant #AuratMarchFaisalabad all necessary permissions and provide them security, should they need it.” the tweet continued.
We call upon authorities to immediately grant #AuratMarchFaisalabad all necessary permissions and provide them security, should they need it. [2/2]— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) August 2, 2021
Read more: Aurat March 2020: What is “Mera Jism Meri Marzi”?
