Women march for rights, peace

March 8, 2022

Text by Mahnoor Hameed

Photo by Adil Lakho

Video by Maryam Nadeem

On March 8, 2022, on International Women’s Day, Aurat March was organized at Jinnah park, Karachi. In this march not only women but also a large number of men and transgenders participated. The purpose of this march was to raise voice against the injustice done to women and for their social rights.

This march has been held every year for the last five years and each year they were having a new theme and had its very own needs and demands. The demands that have been focusing this year have been on wages, protection and peace (#Ujrat, Tahafuz Aur Sukoon). The march was based on three main demands that were wages based on safe housing, quality education and access to affordable healthcare for workers also social security, protection, equal monthly stipends for all women and transgenders as compare to men and prioritize the welfare of children by eliminating child labor. People who attended the March also raised different placards with different slogans on them.

In this march poems and rap song were also presented for women. Later the guest speakers of the event Dr.Sarah Gill, who is the first transgender doctor of Pakistan, were called upon the stage, while delivering her speech she also motivated many transgenders to get educated so that they can also get a better life ahead. Dr Sara also requested the Government of Pakistan to provide social security, equal wages and rights for transgenders. Transgenders’ rights Activist Bindiya Rana also highlighted issues that transgenders have to face while they want to earn for themselves to survive in this world. The wife of Nazim Jokhio was also called on the stage to share what she went through when her husband was tortured and killed, she demanded justice for her husband.

Everyone from Jinnah park marched on MA Jinnah road with their placards, and the protestors ended march at Jinnah park.