Women, together with the transgender community, non-binary folks and men, rallied across the country on Sunday participating in an event known as Aurat March to mark the International Women’s Day as they joined the global call for gender equality.
Organised by a diverse group of individuals across class, sexuality and ability, Aurat March gatherings and rallies were held in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Multan, Sukkur, Hyderabad and other cities to highlight the plight of women and other gender minorities.
The participants delivered hard-hitting speeches and held placards and banners displaying thought-provoking slogans to raise the pressing issues of gender-based violence including sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, deep-rooted misogyny and the patriarchal mindset prevalent in the society.
The country saw its first Aurat March in 2018 in Karachi. Last year it was extended to including Lahore, Multan and Hyderabad among other cities. This time, women took to the streets in large number in Quetta and Sukkur.
In Karachi, hundreds flooded the Frere Hall garden for the march despite the beating sun.
