Case filed against Aurat March organisers for breaching Section 144 in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad have taken action against the organizers of the Aurat March for violating the protest ban, resulting in the registration of an FIR.

A case has been registered at Kohsar Police Station against the leaders of the Aurat March who violated Section 144 on March 8 when they protested without prior permission. The case registered at Kohsar Police Station includes charges under Sections 188 and 341 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 8 of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024.

The FIR was registered by Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio, who named Farzana Bari for leading a march of over 150 women towards the National Press Club. It names Bilal Rabbani and dozens of others, including Abdul Shakoor, central joint secretary of the Pakistan Ideological Party.

It said that the police personnel along with the officials tried to stop the protesters but the groups blocked a road. After further investigation, the magistrate found that no No Objection Certificate (NOC) had been given for the march or protest.

The protest was deemed illegal as the DC had imposed Section 144 in the capital, banning all forms of protest, and this led to online outrage with the Left criticising the action.