The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday turned down a petition that sought legal action against the organisers of Aurat March. A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah dismissed the plea after preliminary arguments of the petitioner's counsel.
The IHC bench also directed the petitioner to approach the relevant forum to have his grievance addressed prior to moving the high court.
During the hearing, CJ IHC asked the petitioner to contact the relevant forum instead of doing this propaganda. The lawyer said that it is not propaganda and that he has turned to the court after having no response from the Interior Ministry.
The petitioner's welfare organisation moved the court through its counsel Abdur Rehman Nasir. Petition mentioned federation, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Council of Islamic Ideology as respondents.
The petition termed the Aurat March campaign as 'immoral.' The petition stated that on the occasion of World Women Day, some women organised an objectionable march held in various cities of the country, including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
It said that the immoral campaign on the rights of women had left a negative impact on the youth and against the Islamic ideology of the country. It stated that participants of the march disgraced Islamic values and tradition which hurt the feelings of the masses. It stated that the participants were holding placards inscribed 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 were 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 said that those holding "immoral banners" should be identified, their details should be sought from the NADRA and legal action should be taken against them.