The activists arrested after gathering at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) for a press conference set for 4 PM. They were demanding a no-objection certificate (NOC) for their upcoming annual march in Karachi.
Karachi Approves Aurat March, but with strict conditions
An Aurat March organizer confirmed to Dawn that seven people, including Sheema Kirmani and Shahzadi Rai, had been released. This happened shortly after Lanjar directed the South Zone police to free the detained activists.
In a post on X after the release, Aurat March Karachi said, “We will NOT back down from our politics, and we will continue to demand an NOC! Scare tactics to suppress dissent are shameful! They called on the Sindh government to explain the reason for the arrests and the “delay” in issuing the NOC.
Why face backslash?
Just before 4 PM, the rights group reported that three of its organizers “picked up” from KPC before the press conference could start. In another post, they claimed that access to the press club blocked.
Later, Aurat March Karachi said, “Seven organizers and volunteers arrested to stop them from reaching KPC. The state is using all its tools to suppress a women’s movement that works on issues of gender, violence, and labor rights. They added, “Booking a room and having a press conference within the walled confines of the press club allowed even during Section 144.”
They asked what law the “peaceful activists” held under since they were not protesting.
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