Aurat March

(Cynthia D. Ritchie – an American living in Pakistan – tweeted a photo of herself on a bicycle to encourage women to use public spaces, unaware of her perceived privileged status as a white woman).

[23] Nighat Dad, who organized the women's march in Lahore, said that people were angry about the posters because most Pakistanis – especially men – were not yet ready to allow the marchers freedom of choice.

Dad said that topics such as women's sexuality and their rights to their own bodies are being discussed for the first time because of the march, but "Online harassment has gone too far in terms of death and rape threats to the organizers and also to the marchers.

"[24][25] According to Nisha Susan, the slogan "Lo Baith Gayi Theek Se" ("Here, I'm sitting correctly") is not about woman-spreading but is an opposition to the constant policing of women's bodies.

[20][26] Opponents called the marchers "vulgar" opportunists who had transgressed conservative Pakistani values and replaced a struggle for rights with an anti-Islamic agenda.

[14][27] Feminist writer Sadia Khatri describes the narrative in an article, saying that posters advocating education, inheritance, and marital rights receive less attention.

Shahid was criticized for his films, which sexualize women and reduce them to props emphasizing his character's masculinity, and defended his position as freedom of expression.

"[33] Guardian journalist Mehreen Zahra-Malik called some of the backlash frightening; a film student reported that a group of boys sexually harassed her 16-year-old sister online and threatened to rape her for posting support for the march on Instagram.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal legislator Rehana Ismail presented a resolution saying that women participating in the march were holding "obscene" placards and calling the marchers' demands for female empowerment "un-Islamic and shameful."

Nida Kirmani, a feminist sociologist at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, said that such posters received the harshest reactions because they challenged power in a household.

A resolution was submitted to the Punjab Assembly by Kanwal Liaquat (MPA-PMLN) demanding an end to all forms of gender discrimination and condemning underage marriage.

[56][57] In addition to social-discrimination issues, the secret installation of cameras in University of Balochistan washrooms and student meeting areas the previous year was highlighted.

[61][62][63] Canadian-Pakistani singer Sophia Jamil (also known as Fifi) released her song, "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" ("My Body, My Choice"), on YouTube.

[67] "Keep man and woman at the place which is designated by Allah ... Don't teach your daughters to do [the] Aurat March; educate your sons ... men should have equal rights too."

Ultra-conservatives maintained Islam is already a feminist religion and instead of making additional demands, Muslim women needed to return to a more-modest culture.

[69] Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League party (PML-N) did not publicly oppose the Aurat March, but cautioned marchers not to violate Islamic cultural markers.

PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar accused Khan and his party of considering the ultra-conservative, PML-N and PTI positions a de facto anti-woman alliance.

[78] Warraich wrote that early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the religious right was in retreat; that phase was short-lived, however, and the government has resumed pressuring women's NGOs (as it had done since the Aurat Marches began).

The reported crimes included honor killings, murder, rape, suicide, acid-burning, kidnapping, child and forced marriage, dowries and inheritance.

[82] Conservatives led by the president of a local trade group in Mardan (a township in the Peshawar region) held a counter-protest before the Aurat March.

[85] Firdous Ashiq Awan, special assistant to the chief minister of Punjab, said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government wants to build a society with gender equality and women's rights in line with Islamic principles and values.

[89] Ali Gul Pir released the satirical song "Tera Jism, Meri Marzi" ("Your Body, My Choice") in response to critics of the Aurat March slogan.

Other points included concerns about climate change, harassment and violence against female healthcare workers, the elimination of chemical castration as a punishment for rape, and a halt to virginity tests.

[105] Maulana Rashid Mehmood Soomro explained Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F)'s objections to those slogans in Aurat March which they think to be contrary to their Islamic ideology and allegedly promote vulgarity.

[111] The Daily Times author Aliya Anjum's article title advices men to have Hijab Day for themselves and points out right to public space for women according to Hadith literature.

[112] The Daily Times also says that there are too many women's issues which need attention of Pakistan authorities as well as society still the editorial believes Aurat March should prefer less controversial slogans.

[115] According to the Dawn Images dated 19 February 2022; many users on social media criticized Noorul Haq Qadri for inexpedient attempts to divert attention from legitimate demands for rights by women of Pakistan.

[125][126] News report of Sanniah Hassan for Baghi TV expressed apprehension saying such inclusion of cutouts jeopardizes legitimate interests of their and other journalists.

[140] According to Moneeza Ahmed, the Aurat March's primary benefit is to initiate a nationwide dialogue about women's-rights issues; feminism has become part of mainstream discourse in Pakistan.

[142] According to Lorna Stevens, Olga Kravets, Pauline Maclaran, Aurat March started since 2018 International Women's Day is now an annual protest in Pakistan.