Mazari condemns ‘calls by political leaders to forcibly stop’ Aurat March
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on Monday condemned those political leaders who were calling on people to "forcibly stop Aurat March", set to take place on March 8.
"Women, like other segments of society, have a right to peacefully protest and demand their rights already enshrined in our Constitution," Mazari said on Twitter.
"Our government is committed to ensuring an end to discrimination against and harassment of women and has put in place programmes, policies and legislative measures to empower women and girls," she added.
Like the past two years, controversy is surrounding Aurat March 2020, which takes place on March 8, the same day as International Women's Day.
A petition in the Lahore High Court is also seeking a ban on the march, citing that its hidden agenda is to spread "anarchy, vulgarity and hatred".
During a hearing on Thursday, the LHC chief justice observed that “freedom of expression cannot be banned”.
In a statement issued on Sunday, PPP secretary general and former senator Farhatullah Babar said the Constitution guaranteed freedom of association and freedom of assembly to everyone and that could not be curtailed by those hurling threats.
Babar said that it was unfortunate that even some of those who claimed to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution were talking about using force to deny the women their right to hold peaceful assembly, peaceful protest and exercise freedom of expression. - Statesman