A sessions court in Peshawar has ordered the registration of a first information report (FIR) against the organisers of Aurat March Islamabad. This was in response to a petition filed by five lawyers, who alleged that the march organisers encouraged “derogatory remarks” against Islam.
Ibrar Hussain, Israr Hussain, Kashif Ahmed Tarakai, Siyad Hussain, and Adnan Gohar filed the petition under Section 22-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This empowers the court to act as a “justice of peace” and register FIRs against offences in case of inaction from police.
The petitioners alleged that slogans and placards raised at the march insulted the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Hazrat Aisha (RA).
Aurat March organisers have denied allegations of raising anti-Islam slogans, and clarified that doctored video clips are being circulated to defame the march.
They have also called for support from the government against a “malicious campaign” being waged against the organisers.
“We are deliberately being silenced for standing up for our rights, which are guaranteed in the constitution of Pakistan,” the official Twitter account of Aurat Azadi March Islamabad posted Thursday. “We hope that you will uphold and protect our constitutional right to life, right of association, freedom of expression, and above all gender equality.”
