ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police have registered a case against the organizers of Aurat March for holding a protest on March 8, allegedly violating Section 144.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Kohsar Police Station, the case was lodged under Section 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 based on a complaint filed by Area Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio on Thursday. As per the complaint, the magistrate came across a social media video showing activist Farzana Bari leading a rally of over 150 women towards the National Press Club, where they staged a protest.
Additionally, members of the Muslim Students Federation, including its president Bilal Rabani, and Pakistan Nazaryati Party’s central joint secretary Abdul Shakoor, along with around 60 men, also joined the protest.
The magistrate, who was in the Super Market area at the time, attempted to stop the march with the help of police personnel but was unsuccessful. As a result, both groups ended up blocking Shaheed-i-Millat Road.
Upon inquiry, the magistrate confirmed from his office that no No Objection Certificate (NOC) had been issued for the march or protest. Since the deputy commissioner had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in Islamabad, banning all types of gatherings, the Aurat March and the associated protest were deemed unlawful.
The FIR stated that Farzana Bari, Bilal Rabani, and Abdul Shakoor had violated the deputy commissioner’s order and the restrictions imposed under Section 144.
