KARACHI:

Being Women’s History Month, March has the potential to rouse your Ireland, make you uncomfortable, make you question your claims to feminism or non-feminism, and dismantle patriarchy to some extent.

Even this year, despite the pandemic, March has not lost its charm. And even though the existing health crisis prevented many from paying attention to women’s issues, March is a chilling reminder that the problems of women and gender minorities can never be ignored.

And with that reminder, the Aurat March was returned, with even more anger and less numbers, reduced to a sit-in in Karachi. This year’s parade takes place on Monday (International Women’s Day) and despite the decline in attendance, it displays the same zeal and enthusiasm needed to overthrow the troubled system. Crowds, mostly hundreds, demanded rights while chanting various slogans, many of which were inspired by the ongoing pandemic.

PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Pictures louder than words

The place was echoed with song Hum lekay rahengay, Azadi, ‘(we will take our liberty no matter what) as hands swirl in the air to empowerment songs.

The evening saw various groups of people gathering for the same purpose. Their protest pallet can be thought of as a threatening array of colors too bold for the common man to wear or a rainbow that eventually fades but scrapes its way across the sky, demanding to be noticed and remembered.

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Many carried placards, raised their voices against rape, sexual harassment, consent and important issues facing women today. Not only are attendees making fuss about problems facing women these days, but many are suing judges for their predecessors – mothers, grandmothers and anyone else who faces injustice at the hands of the patriarchy.

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Several interesting posters were plastered with the words “Women are the future”, “Doesn’t mean no”, “Divorced girls are better than the dead”, “I was raised by a feminist man and I raised a man who would become a feminist. “,” Stop underage marriage “,” Stop killing waria. “Many placards describe war rape, honor killings, destruction of patriarchy, rallies against child marriage and child sexual abuse as well.

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Despite the colorful placards and inscriptions, the audience continued to ‘wear’ their protest against the misogyny with masks, badges, and dupatta emblazoned with inscriptions too important not to notice.

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Ruffled fur

“We started the Aurat March 2018, three years have passed and this is our fourth year, but things have not changed,” said activist Sheema Kermani, raising the crowd with clear speeches and strong arguments. “We see that patriarchal violence is on the rise, we have gang rape cases on the highway, little girls are not as safe as before and people who say #MeToo face defamation suits. If it weren’t for patriarchy, none of these incidents would have happened and the defendant wouldn’t have the power to sue the victim, ”said Kermani.

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

She further re-enacts how the past year has led to an increase in domestic violence worldwide, all of which come under the umbrella of patriarchal violence. “There is so much domestic violence, and cases have spiked around the world. Women who are forced to sit at home and work from home suffer at the hands of a misogynist partner, their father or brother, ”said Kermani.

PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Asked whether the previous march had brought little or no change, how this year’s sit-in would make a difference, Kermani said, “We have our charter of demands, and if these demands are not met, we will do dharna (sit-in) again. “

PHOTOS: RIDA LODHI / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Perhaps the reason the Aurat Maret charter demands are rarely fulfilled is because of the way the parade itself is represented in the media. But not imprisoning, even sensationalism was welcomed by the organizers. “It’s okay, let them create a sensation, we get more publicity, more people talk about the parade. This is a great dialogue opener and we need dialogue to get started. We support all slogans and everyone has the right to freedom of speech, “he concluded.

PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN / EXPRESS TRIBUNE

While Monday’s march saw women from all walks of life document their displeasure at how their voices were restricted, no well-known celebrity, except for Adnan Malik, was present at the Karachi Aurat March.

Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.