In pictures: Girls ride bikes in rally against harassment
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LAHORE/KARACHI: Girls in Lahore and Karachi took to the streets on Sunday for a bike rally—they came out in dozens and rode enthusiastically throughout the route, without the company of men.
They carried witty posters saying things like, "Cycle Chalao, Aurton ko Haq Dilao/Patriarchy Dubao" and "I can cycle... can you keep up?"
The rally was organised by Girls at Dhabas and Critical Mass Lahore in protest of the harassment women experience when they venture out in their cities alone. Last week, a Critical Mass Lahore member Aneeqa Ali was riding her cycle to join the rest of the group, when a car of boys intercepted her and hit her bike from behind. Aneeqa took to social media and spoke publicly after the incident, inspiring others to organise a larger scale event for all women, many of whom have experienced similar harassment on their city's roads.
Also read: What is it about a girl cycling that says 'come harass me'?
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On DawnNews
Comments (33) Closed
Mar 28, 2016 06:32pm
Just Awesome! Good to see Pakistani women reaching out for their rights.
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Mar 28, 2016 07:10pm
No one on a Harley Davidson?
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Mar 28, 2016 07:19pm
@Battleaxe
Not yet
Soon there will be many
I admire these brave girls making their voice heard
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Mar 28, 2016 07:25pm
Bring it to Islamabad
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Mar 28, 2016 07:35pm
Kudos to the brave souls.
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Mar 28, 2016 07:43pm
This should happen more often. Ideal mode to stay fit and healthy, and burn extra fat and cholesterol and save petrol. Cycling tracks needed in urban areas in urgent basis. In European cities they are dismantling flyovers and roads and constructing cycling and pedestrian areas. In many city blocks the width of walkways are more than the road for cars. Also in many city areas motorists are barred and only cycles and pedestrianized traffic is allowed.
Check Singapore, Bonn, Vienna, Frankfurt Paris, Berlin, Zurich and other cities with highest living standards and the use of cycles and use of walkways.
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Mar 28, 2016 08:00pm
Freedom is good but freedom comes with responsibility. Be responsible in whatever you do otherwise the things can turn ugly.
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Mar 28, 2016 09:54pm
@N_Saq - Please elaborate on your statement. All these girls were doing was riding bicycles and having some fun and they have every right to do these types o activities.
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Mar 28, 2016 10:17pm
What era are we living in, girls should be walking, running, riding, driving, flying....freely everywhere.
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Mar 28, 2016 10:36pm
The article and pictures were really good after two days of depression about Lahore Islamabad and Karachi. No leader will bring change only our young generation can bring the change. Spread these movement to every corner of the country. I hope to live to see a day when these bright young people will bring out everyone out on the street against forces of darkness controlling the country. MY LIFE MY WAY
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Mar 28, 2016 10:37pm
Nothing wrong...may be good..but not at this time when there is too much trouble around...
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Mar 28, 2016 11:27pm
I am so glad to see girls on bicycles. I encourage you to keep riding your bicycles and do not get upset with our antediluvian cultural things.
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Mar 29, 2016 12:28am
Awesome!
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Mar 29, 2016 12:57am
Women and men need to be made equal partners in our Planet re-orienting enterprise.
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Mar 29, 2016 06:44am
Heart warming but also shameful that such a basic freedom should become a news item in today's day and age.Progress,nevertheless.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:17am
If Pakistani select woman prime minister so what all this fuss about cycling . I don't get it.
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Mar 29, 2016 09:19am
Instead of distributing costly laptops among students of educational institutions, Shahbaz Sharif should have given them bicycles. This would have not only brought a healthy trend of cycling amongst the masses but also would have been a cheaper give-away and contributed towards reduced load on traffic.
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Mar 29, 2016 09:29am
This is the postive aspect of pakistan which must win an oscar
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Mar 29, 2016 10:43am
More girls out there in the streets, that much safer the streets become for every one.
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Mar 29, 2016 12:23pm
I personally second this concept of healthy and attractive demonstration. Apart from cycling I am quite positive that ladies must ride motor bikes as well among men. Dependence on men is one factor of our society which makes women weak. Breaking through these taboos can definitely lead Pakistan to a prosperous nation since prosperity comes from people of a nation not from the VIPs sitting in parliament houses!
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Mar 29, 2016 02:28pm
Great!!!
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Mar 29, 2016 02:52pm
The organizers are requested to arrange one in Islamabad as well.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:39pm
Bravo. Keep it up.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:03pm
go girls... you are brave and bright
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Mar 30, 2016 12:17am
Women like this inspire me so much. I get on my bike everyday and enjoy the freedom of cycling without fear of persecution. My freedom is only there thanks to people who stood up and challenged society. We must be the change, go girls!
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Mar 30, 2016 08:28am
@Arif Mirza yeah right, no one from other provinces as government priority is only to invest in people from Lahore. However a bold step and must be appreciated.
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Mar 30, 2016 10:09am
After lahore blast i was very sad and this news really really made me smile!! i simply love it please more girls should join there brave girls
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Mar 30, 2016 10:10am
beautiful girls doing a wonderful job for their rights
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Mar 30, 2016 10:47am
PAKISTANI women! The steel in the backbone of Pakistan.
When you achieve total equality Pakistan will soar
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Mar 30, 2016 09:44pm
There should be Government level Campaign, just like polio. Our eastern Neighbor is Champion in these kind of sociological family programme. We should also start these programmes in nationwide.
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Mar 31, 2016 01:41am
Never knew women on wheels in Pakistan was such a big affair
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Mar 31, 2016 04:34pm
It was always legal for women to ride bicycles in Pakistan. But if they think that by these type of protests, they will force men to ignore this is wishful thinking. First teach and convince the men in their own household to stop eve teasing women on the road. That is where the problem lies....
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Mar 31, 2016 05:46pm
You Go GIRLS . Well deserved right to ride .
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