LHC wraps up Aurat March petition, asks authorities to decide on permission quickly

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday wrapped up a petition filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique against Aurat March 2020 and issued orders for strict security to be provided to the participants and organisers.

During the latest hearing, LHC Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh also directed the district administration to make a decision on Aurat March organisers' application to hold the event and advised the rally leaders to respect the constitutional and legal limits.

Relevant officials should meet the organisers and assist them, Justice Sheikh noted, adding that strict security should be arranged at the entry and exit points.

Advocate Siddique's petition had claimed that Aurat March was "against the very norms of Islam", that its hidden agenda is to spread "anarchy, vulgarity and hatred", and that "various anti-state parties present who are funding this Aurat March with the sole purpose of spreading anarchy amongst the masses".

In today's hearing, Justice Sheikh said the Aurat March organisers should obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the relevant officials and provide a statement of oath. "Slogans that may be hurtful should be avoided," he added.

"The rights of men and women in the Constitution of Pakistan are very clear," the judge added.

The court also remarked that in last year's Aurat March, there were objectionable statements and "placards reading 'Mera jism, meri marzi' [My body, my choice] seen".

To which, Nighat Dasad — the lawyer representing Aurat March — said the organisers were not responsible for the controversial placards.

The top LHC judge said his goal was to improve security for the Aurat March.

On the other hand, Siddiqui, the petitioner, told the court: "I never wanted for the Aurat March to be stopped but to regulate it."

Dad responded by saying his petition had sought to ban the rally. The Aurat March Code of Conduct prohibited hate speech whether through words or placards, she added.

Siddiqui responded, saying the reason he "approached the court was to ensure there was no harm … that no harm is posed to the women and children participating in the march".

"Women are the beauty of our society," he explained. "The government's response has clarified that the security agencies have taken up the matter," he said, adding that there was a lot of respect and honour for women in Islam and they also had rights in the Constitution.

Separately, Punjab government's Additional Advocate General Asif Mehmood Cheema also submitted his response with regard to the petition.