LAHORE: Press conferences at the Lahore Press Club are usually sedate and short, no matter what the issue is. But, on Friday, the club’s Nisar Osmani Auditorium rang with slogans.

The Aurat March organisers were unveiling their manifesto here.

“Mera jism, meri marzi!” (my body, my right), chanted the organisers of the conference and photographers and cameramen had a field day zooming in and clicking shots. For one suspended moment, everyone was unable to comprehend this sudden display of ‘street power’, unable to see that it has spilled out and cannot be contained anymore.

The auditorium was packed – also a rare sight. There were several people, who had only come to show their support to the women on stage. Passersby also sauntered in because the presence of so many women at the press club made for an odd sight.

The 15-point manifesto included demands for basic rights and a support system for not just women, but also children and marginalised groups. Even men. The organisers hoped the journalists would ask questions about the demands that included a variety of issues, from saying no to IMF funding to putting an end to child sexual abuse to the rights of those whose family members had gone missing.

Instead, the reporters – mostly men -- caused a ruckus and steered the conversation to what had become a controversial topic – women demanding bodily rights and empowerment.

“What do you think of men being allowed four marriages in Islam? How can women be equal regarding that rule?” asked one. “The Jamaat-i-Islami will also be carrying out a rally on March 8, will you be joining them?” asked another.

And then finally the question-answer session reached ‘troubled’ territory. One of the journalists was challenging the panel repeatedly with what he called were facts. “I went to the court and I know for sure that Aurat March has been banned!” he shouted. His friend tugged at his sleeve, gesturing him to let it go.

One of the members of the core organising committee explained to him what the Lahore High Court’s verdict actually was: to allow the march as per their constitutional rights.

And then the journalist challenged the women panelists to answer: “Do you, or do you not, maintain that this is your slogan (Mera jism, meri marzi)?” he sounded demanding, his arms crossed at his chest.

The women had had it. They were done explaining themselves and the meaning of this slogan. As their voices echoed, and activists beat the table in a rhythm, the mood changed from acerbic to one where everyone is smiling. The atmosphere became electrifying and even the journalist earlier browbeating them could not help but grin.

“No one has the right over the body of anyone else without consent. We already explained the meaning of this slogan twice,” said a young lawyer later. “But they were pushing their question at us repeatedly. The outburst was spontaneous!”

The women were also holding pictures of minor rape and murder victims.

“The way these guys ask questions is leading and unethical,” said Khursand Bayar Ali later. She is a representative of the transgender community. “They want to simply spice things up, and not want to find out what we are about.”

Khursand, however, feels the panel should have maintained its composure as now the video was being widely shared on social media and the women not being taken seriously.

But, sociologist and rights activist Farida Shaheed has something to say about that.

“Why is it that Khadim Rizvi can utter all that he wants to, degrade women and use abusive language and not one person comes out for that? Here are a group of women asking for their rights and they have a problem,” she stated.

Turning towards the men, she blatantly asked: “Tell me something! If you don’t agree with “Mera jism, meri marzi”, then you are allowing someone’s child to be raped and you are siding with the rapist. Tumhara jism kis ki marzi hai (whose right is your body)?”

The men in the room fell silent.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2020