The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) strongly condemned the reported threats being made against organizers and participants of the Aurat March, 2020, that is scheduled to be held on the International Women's Day. The statement issued by the PBC secretary said that the uncalled for threats were contrary to the fundamental rights of citizens, and constituted hate speech against women's rights activities across the country.
The council endorses the demands made by the Aurat March that being in line with fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. The Aurat March "Charter of Demands" highlights issues of violence and economic deprivation against women, and all their demands are legitimate and within the bounds of the Constitution and the Laws of Pakistan. It is the fundamental right of every citizen to assemble in public places and mark their peaceful protest.
The International Women's Day is being observed in Pakistan for decades and there have been no instances of violence or unconstitutional activity at the march. In fact, the visibility and participation of women in public spaces is a sign of a functioning democracy. The PBC, therefore, calls upon the relevant government institutions to provide security and safety to the Aurat March organizers and the participants to ensure that they exercise their constitutional right to march and protest in a peaceful and safe manner.
Meanwhile, the PBC also condemned the decision of the Indian government to extend the period of detention of Mian Abdul Qayoom, president and Ashraf Butt, general secretary, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and other political leaders of Indian occupied Kashmir, under the draconian Public Safety Act.
Mian Qayoom, an old-aged lawyers' leader, who remained president of High Court Bar Association for 21 times, suffering from multiple ailments also having undergone heart surgery; currently lodged in the Tihar Jail, New Delhi, is being punished for his undeterred stance on Kashmir issue.
He was arrested along with 24 other activists following the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 of Constitution by Indian government on August 5, last year.
The fascist Modi government, which is continuously committing atrocities on innocent Kashmiris, has shamelessly denied even medical facilities to Mian Qayoom.
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