People of all genders and hailing from all segments of society took to streets across Pakistan on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day with the Aurat March 2020, the third annual protest demanding equal rights for all. This is the first bone of contention that the public seems to have with the Aurat March. While there was very little chatter about the manifesto itself, most of the criticism targeted the posters and slogans featured at the march. Are we going to take the moments of fissures and breaking-points in the plot-line of Dil Bechara as a cue to realise that there is an urgent need to peel off the façade of Bollywood template of masculinity?Pakistan’s Aurat March: Women Taking To The Streets On 8 March, 2020Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Each time they come out, and defy the boundaries set for them by the It all started in 2018, when ordinary women and feminist collectives, under the banner “Hum Aurtain” came together to organise a rally for International Women’s Day.
... 7 March 2020. They are staying in the back and letting us speak,” she commented on the participation of a large number of men in the rally.Despite the social media storm before the march, where men and women were pitted against each other, men were present in large numbers in support of the Aurat March.Asad, a 22-year-old student, solemnly held up a placard stating “A man must march silently today so no man yells at a woman of tomorrow”.Explaining the motivation behind his poster and his participation in the march, Asad simply stated that he wanted to contribute to the women’s empowerment cause.Huda, a 27-year-old lawyer was tired of the subtle sexism, said: “I march because people assume it’s okay to question my career, my life choices, even my weight; just because I am woman, they think they have a right to have a say in my life.”The march was also well attended by celebrities, social justice activists and academicians alike.Nayab Gohar Jan, a famed activist, entrepreneur, and journalist, showed her happiness at the huge turnout at the march and stated, “This year’s march is a huge success despite the negative propaganda.”Meanwhile, a resolution was submitted in the Punjab Assembly by PML-N MPA Kanwal Liaquat, demanding an end to gender discrimination. Marchers had also put up posters made by volunteers at Hussain Chowk, Lahore, to voice concerns of women in society, which was promptly taken down by a mob, that was uncomfortable with the display. This year, the Aurat March’s manifesto revolved around In Lahore, the marchers gathered outside the Lahore Press Club and passed through Egerton Road to culminate outside Aiwan-e-Iqbal. Women actively participated in the march amid strict security measures.On Saturday night, a rally was held on Saturday night in Sukkur during which participants carried torches. The participants reached China Chowk from the National Press Club where the party chief Sirajul Haq addressed the gathering.
Many were of the opinion that the marchers were “vulgar opportunists” who had compromised traditional Islamic values, in a Muslim majority country and had cheapened a legitimate fight for rights with “liberal”, “anti-Islamic” agenda. It is intriguing to note that an organisation which strives to work for the rights of men and is visibly hostile towards feminism calls itself the Save Indian Family Foundation. With the Aurat March, terms like “pidar-shahi” (These slogans ranged from the popular “Akeli Awara Azaad” to “Khud Khana Garam Kar Lo”, “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi”, “Khana main garam karoongi, tum bistar khud garam kar lo” and so on.