With a week left for Aurat March in Karachi, organisers say NOC yet to be issued

Lead

With just a week remaining before the Aurat March is set to take place in Karachi, organisers say they have yet to receive a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the authorities, according to multiple reports from Dawn. The march is scheduled for May 10 at Sea View, coinciding with Mother's Day, a date that has become customary for the annual women's rights demonstration.

Meanwhile, the situation has been marked by a series of rapid developments: the brief detention of seven activists, the suspension of three police officials for alleged mistreatment, and conflicting accounts regarding the issuance of an NOC.

Coverage Comparison

Dawn, Pakistan's leading English-language daily, has covered the story extensively over the past week. While all reports are from the same outlet, they reflect different stages of the unfolding events and, at times, present differing angles—one report indicates that the Sindh government has issued an NOC with conditions, while another states that organisers have not received any such certificate. This discrepancy appears to be a matter of timing, as the NOC was reportedly granted on May 9, after organisers' public appeals.

Unconfirmed reports from the district administration suggest that the South senior superintendent of police had been asked to submit a report to further process the NOC request, and that the report had yet to be submitted as of the latest available information. This has contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the event's approval.

The coverage also includes a strongly worded editorial that criticises the conditions attached to the NOC as an attempt to control the narrative around women's rights—a perspective that is not necessarily reflective of the news reporting in the same publication.

Key Claims

• NOC status: The Sindh government has issued an NOC to Aurat March Karachi for the May 10 gathering at Sea View, but with 28 conditions, according to a report that emerged on Saturday. However, organisers had earlier stated that they had not received the certificate, and a formal confirmation from the organisers about the NOC's receipt is not yet available.

• Conditions imposed: The NOC reportedly includes restrictions on anti-state and anti-religion slogans, banners, speeches, and activities, as well as prohibitions on participation by any banned or proscribed organisations. Organisers are bound to comply with all laws in force and ensure peaceful conduct.

• Organisers' appeal: With the NOC pending, organisers sent a letter to Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, a prominent figure of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), seeking her intervention. The letter highlights Sindh's history of women in politics and appeals for support in ensuring the NOC is promptly issued.

• Detentions and release: Seven Aurat March activists, including Sheema Kermani and Shahzadi Rai, were briefly detained on May 5 after gathering outside the Karachi Press Club to demand an NOC. They were released on the orders of Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar.

• Police suspensions: In response to the alleged mistreatment of activists during the detentions, the Karachi police suspended three officials: Deputy Superintendent of Police Nasir Afridi, Women Station House Officer Hina Mughal, and Artillery Maidan Police Station SHO Nadeem. The police chief has ordered a transparent inquiry.

Perspectives

Organisers: The Aurat March organisers maintain that they are a peaceful movement demanding women's rights, and that the state's actions—including detentions and restrictive conditions—amount to suppression of legitimate dissent. They have emphasised the cross-class nature of their demands, which include gender justice and labour rights, and have called on political leaders like Aseefa Bhutto Zardari to uphold Sindh's progressive legacy.

Government authorities: The Sindh government and police have framed their actions as necessary for maintaining public order. The suspension of police officials signals an acknowledgment of potential misconduct, but the authorities have also justified the NOC conditions as a standard security measure. Officials have stated that respect for women's rights will be ensured while also emphasising the need for compliance with the law.

Editorial critique: An editorial in Dawn has sharply criticised the government's approach, describing the 28 conditions as "authoritarian anxiety" and arguing that the state is attempting to regulate women's speech and dress rather than address the root causes of gender violence. This perspective underscores a broader concern about the erosion of civil liberties under the guise of administrative procedure.

Conclusion

The situation remains fluid, with the NOC reportedly issued just days before the march, but organisers' public statements suggest they may not have been formally notified. The detentions and subsequent suspensions highlight tensions between the state's security apparatus and civil society. As the march date approaches, all eyes will be on whether the authorities and organisers can reach a mutually acceptable arrangement, and whether the event proceeds without further incident.