Lahore court reserves verdict on petition seeking FIR against Aurat March participants

Published May 22, 2019
According to a police report submitted in court, there had been no illegal or immoral act committed in the march in front of Governor House Punjab on International Women's Day. ─ Photo courtesy Amnesty International/File
According to a police report submitted in court, there had been no illegal or immoral act committed in the march in front of Governor House Punjab on International Women's Day. ─ Photo courtesy Amnesty International/File

A sessions court in Lahore on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a petition seeking the registration of a first information report against the participants of the Aurat March this year for an alleged immoral and unconstitutional act.

Amina Malik of the Civil Society Network filed a petition under section 22-A and 22-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure pleading that an application had been submitted with the Civil Lines station house officer (SHO) for registration of an FIR against Aurat March participants, but the SHO was reluctant to lodge a case.

The petitioner argued through her lawyer that participants had displayed placards with immoral slogans. The lawyer claimed that the act was against the Constitution and Islamic injunctions, and asked the court to order the police to lodge a case against the participants.

On May 6, the judge had issued notices to the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) and the police complaint redressal cell with regards to the petition for May 14.

During today's hearing by Additional District and Sessions Judge Amir Habib, District Complaint Officer (DCO) Superintendent of Police (SP) Faisal Mukhtar submitted the police's response to the petition in court.

According to the police report, there had been no illegal or immoral act committed in the march in front of Governor House Punjab on International Women's Day. It added that a case could not be registered for taking out a peaceful rally.

The court subsequently reserved its verdict in the case.

Opinion

Editorial

Some progress
Updated 24 May, 2026

Some progress

Pakistan deserves credit for helping preserve diplomatic space, but also must avoid appearing aligned with coercive pressure from any side.
Chinese market
24 May, 2026

Chinese market

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s trip to China presents an opportunity to rebalance Pakistan’s economic...
Harvesting humans
24 May, 2026

Harvesting humans

ORGAN brokers have for too long preyed on desperation to rake it in. The odious trade — among the most harmful...
More stabilisation
Updated 23 May, 2026

More stabilisation

The stabilisation achieved through painful growth compression steps could have been used as a platform for structural reforms.
Appalling tactics
23 May, 2026

Appalling tactics

IN Punjab, an encounter with the law can quickly turn deadly. Encouraged by a culture of ‘shoot first, ask...
Failed experiment
23 May, 2026

Failed experiment

IT is going from bad to worse for Shan Masood and Pakistan. It is now seven successive Test defeats away from home;...