Bar council condemns reported threats to Aurat March.

Byline: Nasir Iqbal

ISLAMABAD -- The PakisAtan Bar Council (PBC) on Tuesday condemned the reported threats being hurled against organisers and participants of the Aurat March to be held on March 8.

PBC Vice Chairman Abid Saqi said in a statement that the uncalled for threats were contrary to the fundamental rights of citizens and constitute hate speech against women's rights activities across the country.

According to the media reports, the organisers of the Aurat March being arranged to mark the International Women's Day on March 8 have claimed that they had received death and rape threats on social media as well as from some religious groups.

PBC, the premier lawyer's regulatory body, therefore, calls upon the relevant government institutions to provide security and safety to the Aurat March organisers and participants to ensure that they exercise their constitutional right to march and protest in a peaceful and safe manner, Mr Saqi said.

The PBC said in the statement that it endorsed the demands made by the Aurat March organisers being in line with fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

The Aurat March Charter of Demands highlighted issues of violence and econoAmic deprivation against women, and all their demands were legitimate and within the bounds of the Constitution and the...