Islamabad : Police detained around a dozen women’s rights activists, including members of the Aurat March movement, here Sunday afternoon as they attempted to hold a Women’s Day rally, drawing condemnation from rights groups and public figures.
Leading rights activist Dr Farzana Bari and 10 other Aurat March Islamabad organisers and participants were taken into custody from the Super Market area before the rally was slated to begin.
They were shifted to the Women's Police Station in G-7 Sitara Market, according to organisers.
Earlier in the day, police sealed roads around the F-6 Press Club and all major arteries leading to the Red Zone with shipping containers to prevent protesters from reaching sensitive areas.
A video shared by Aurat March Islamabad on its Instagram account showed several women, including Dr Bari, seated inside a police van.
Aurat March volunteer Areeba Nadeem said organisers and volunteers were arrested while attempting to hold a peaceful demonstration.
“It's ironic that on International Women's Day, the police chose to silence women’s voices,” she told The News.
Areeba said relatives and legal representatives were first prevented from meeting the detainees and then held along with several others who had gathered outside the police station.
Police officials defended the arrests, saying Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which bars public gatherings of four or more people in designated areas, has been imposed in the city.
They also said the organisers didn't obtain the required no-objection certificate for the rally.
However, some organisers claimed that though a formal NOC wasn't issued by the administration, there had been an informal understanding that the march would be allowed to proceed peacefully.
In a statement, Aurat March Islamabad condemned the arrests, saying activists were peacefully exercising their right to demonstrate.
“The detention of those who even went to the police station to seek the release of their comrades is deeply unjust and unacceptable. We demand the immediate release of all the arrested organisers and participants.”
The group urged supporters to disperse for their safety and said it was working to secure the detainees’ release while preparing to challenge the “injustice” through legal and constitutional channels.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of those detained.
“HRCP demands the immediate release of Aurat March Islamabad organisers and participants, who were arrested earlier today by the Islamabad police. Marking International Women's Day is the legitimate right of all Pakistani women and must be respected by the authorities. Such oppressive measures in the name of maintaining law and order are highly deplorable,” the organisation said in a statement.
The incident triggered strong reactions on social media.
Senior journalist Zahid Hussain criticised the “illegitimate government for curbing democratic rights” and described the action as shameful.
Former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi also questioned the crackdown.
“Arresting women who want to hold a peaceful march. Why are the authorities so scared? What are they scared of? a few hundred women?”
