Aurat March: IHC reserves verdict in Intra-Court Appeal filed against organizers

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday reserved verdict in an Intra-Court Appeal (ICA) filed against a single bench judgement which had turned down a petition against the organisers of Aurat March. A division bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhar Kayani conducted hearing in this matter and reserved its verdict after hearing arguments in this regard.
Earlier, a single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah had dismissed the petition directing the petitioner to approach the relevant forum to have his grievance addressed before moving the high court. The petitioner, a welfare organisation, moved the court through its counsel Abdur Rehman Nasir and cited the federation, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) as respondents.
The petition filed against Aurat March organisers termed the campaign as 'immoral'. The petitioner stated in the petition that on the occasion of World Women Day, some women organised an objectionable march which was held in various cities of the country including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
The petition said the immoral campaign on the rights of women had left a negative impact on the youth and not controlling such a march is against the Islamic ideology of the country. It maintained that participants of the march disgraced Islamic values and traditions which hurt the feelings of the masses. It added that the participants were holding placards inscribed with very immoral and un-Islamic slogans while they promoted free-sex and other unethical and un-Islamic ways.
The petitioner contended that holding of disputed march and displaying of un-Islamic cards is violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. The petition prayed to the court that strict action should be taken against those involved in this march. It added that those holding "immoral banners" should be identified and their details should be sought from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and legal action should be taken against them.