11 Women and 3 Men Arrested During Aurat March in Islamabad

Islamabad Police have arrested 11 women and three men during the Aurat March in the federal capital for allegedly violating Section 144, which bans public gatherings without official permission. According to media reports, the arrests took place in Sector F-6 after participants attempted to organize the Aurat March from F-6 to D-Chowk.

Officials from the district administration stated that no No Objection Certificate (NOC) had been issued for the march. They also confirmed that Section 144 is currently in force in Islamabad, which restricts public protests and gatherings in order to maintain law and order.

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Police authorities said that the protesters were taken into custody for violating these restrictions. SSP Operations Qazi Ali Raza stated that several members of the Aurat March leadership and supporters were shifted to the G-7 police station following their arrest. He added that the action was taken strictly under the law due to the violation of the imposed restrictions.

However, the Aurat March organizers have presented a different stance. According to the administration of the march, they had submitted an application for an NOC to the Deputy Commissioner’s office about a month earlier. They claim that the request was not formally rejected, which they believe allowed them to proceed with the march.

The development has sparked debate on social media and among civil society groups regarding freedom of assembly and the enforcement of Section 144 in the capital. Supporters of the march say the event aims to highlight women’s rights and social issues, while authorities maintain that legal procedures must be followed for public gatherings.