In a tense prelude to the annual Aurat March scheduled for March 8 in Islamabad, several activists, organisers, volunteers, and journalists were detained by the Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) in the hours leading up to the planned rally. These arrests, which took place primarily around the F-6 sector and police stations, ignited widespread criticism from human rights advocates and civil society groups who viewed the detentions as a deliberate attempt to stifle a peaceful demonstration before it could even commence. Fortunately, after prolonged uncertainty and mounting legal pressure, all those detained were eventually released later the same day.
The Aurat March, a significant event advocating for women’s rights and gender equality in Pakistan, has increasingly become a focal point for discussions on civil liberties and state response to public gatherings. This year’s rally was no exception, as organisers initially planned to assemble at the National Press Club but shifted the venue to the F-6 area following credible security threats. Despite this precaution, police intervention occurred before the march could formally begin, leading to the arrest of key figures involved in the event.
Eyewitnesses present at the scene described how the police moved swiftly to detain prominent organisers, including well-known activists Tahira Abdullah and Samina Asghar, who were apprehended near barricades at the press club while in the company of security personnel. The crackdown extended beyond the organisers, as volunteers and supporters who gathered outside police stations to demand the release of detainees were also taken into custody. This escalation heightened tensions and raised concerns about the authorities’ approach to managing peaceful protests.
Legal representatives who arrived to support the detainees faced challenges in obtaining clear information from the police regarding the whereabouts and status of those arrested. Several female journalists covering the unfolding events were among those detained, with one reporter named Farhat alleging physical mistreatment during her arrest, including being dragged and struck by officers. Initially, many detainees were held at the G-7 police station before some were transferred to Kohsar Police Station. Activists also reported that police attempted to secure written undertakings from detainees, requiring them to sign documents promising not to hold press conferences or discuss the incident on social media as a condition for their release.
Meanwhile, legal counsel revealed that although the Islamabad Capital Territory Police had drafted the text of a first information report (FIR) related to the incident, it had not been formally registered by Sunday evening. The delay in registering the FIR was attributed to pressure from various quarters following the arrests. If registered, the FIR would likely invoke Sections 188 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertain to disobedience of public servants’ orders and obstructing officials from performing their duties, respectively. Both sections are bailable offences, meaning those charged could secure release upon furnishing bail bonds.
The events surrounding the Aurat March detentions have reignited debates among activists, legal experts, and civil society about the frequent use of restrictive laws, such as Section 144, to curb public assemblies in Islamabad. Digital rights advocate Fareiha Aziz criticized the routine administrative actions taken against peaceful demonstrators, emphasizing that the responsibility for such crackdowns lies squarely with the government and city administration rather than the protest organisers. Aziz called for a broader public discourse on the continued invocation of preventive laws that often serve to suppress lawful gatherings, arguing that while these laws exist within the legal framework, their application should be challenged and reconsidered.
Aziz further stressed that protest movements should not be confined to rigid frameworks requiring prior approval or no-objection certificates, noting that the Aurat March was intended as a peaceful march rather than a protest demanding official permission. She highlighted the inherent power imbalance between the state and citizens, cautioning against equating responsibility and accountability in such contexts. This perspective underscores the ongoing struggle for civic space and the right to assemble freely in Pakistan’s capital.
In response to the police actions, women’s rights activists and representatives from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) convened a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad. They condemned the police crackdown as an act of state violence against peaceful participants of the Aurat March during International Women’s Day events. The speakers called for accountability and urged authorities to respect citizens’ rights to protest, warning that such heavy-handed responses reflect a troubling trend of shrinking civic space and increasing restrictions on fundamental freedoms in the country.
