LAHORE: After successful negotiations between Aurat March organisers and the city government, the Lahore High Court permitted the Women’s Day event on Tuesday, asking the former to ensure that no unpleasant slogan or objectionable action occurs during the march.
Rights campaigners Khawar Mumtaz, Leena Ghani, and Hiba Akbar petitioned the Lahore administration to allow the Aurat March outside Nasser Bagh.
Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider and police authorities informed Justice Anwaar Hussain that district intelligence committee security concerns prevented authorization.
The deputy commissioner said the police were busy securing the Pakistan Super League in Qaddafi Stadium.
The judge questioned city political gatherings amid government security fears. He added the police were ready to act whenever a politician appeared in court.
The deputy commissioner claimed Aurat March last year caused a law and order crisis.
A law official suggested the march outside Lahore Press Club.
Justice Hussain said the administration has to keep order. He asked march organisers to act responsibly and work with the administration.
The judge ordered the city administration to meet with the petitioners and reach an agreement. After a good exchange, both sides began hearing at 2 pm.
Place
Deputy Commissioner Haider and the organisers told the court that the march will begin at 2pm today from Nadra’s Shimla Hill headquarters to Faletti’s Hotel.
The judge then overturned the impugned administration order, ruling that peaceful and lawful activities could not be restricted.
The judge ordered the Aurat March organisers to prevent offensive speech and illegal activities.
Advocate Asad Jamal and LHC Bar Association Secretary Sabahat Rizvi represented the petitioners.
Afterwards, The lawyer said the deputy commissioner denied the petitioners and thousands of women from organising a peaceful Aurat March on International Women’s Day.
He claimed the DC’s order was capricious, unconstitutional, and a breach of residents’ constitutional rights.
He stated the petitioners’ lawful assembly right could not be rejected unless it violated others’ rights.
