LAHORE: A delegation of the Aurat March core organising committee met Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed to discuss matters related to the event to be held on Sunday (today) on International Women’s Day.

The organisers were also given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC), formally allowing the march to go ahead, but with certain conditions. It was decided that the march participants would limit themselves to Egerton Road, while traffic would continue as usual in front of the Lahore Press Club (Shimla Pahari) and other adjoining roads.

The Aurat March would commence at 12pm from the Nadra centre near the press club, pass through Egerton Road and culminate at Aiwan-i-Iqbal. “All the participants will have to pass through walkthrough gates for security,” the CCPO said. “Checking will be activated before the march starts.”

He also informed the organisers that parking facilities had been provided near Queen Mary College. There would be no traffic on Egerton Road to give way to the marchers. “All traffic will be suspended on Egerton Road during the march,” he further said.

For security purposes, the CCPO designated Dolphin Squad Superintendent of Police (SP) Aisha Butt as focal person of the Lahore police, who will remain in constant touch with the organisers.

Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Rai Babar Saeed, Deputy Commissioner Danish Afzaal and SP Butt also attended the meeting, while the Aurat March delegation included Asad Jamal, Aimen Bucha, Leena Ghani and Saqib Jilani.

The march representatives said they had been fully assured of high-level security by the CCPO, and after continuous efforts finally issued the NOC. They assured the officer that the march would end at 3pm after which they would gather in front of Aiwan-i-Iqbal and some speakers address the participants.

“We advise participants to reach the press club by 11am where the point of entry to the march is just outside the Nadra centre on Egerton Road,” said Leena Ghani. “We also request participants to stay with the march till the end once they enter through the entry point.”

For those intending to come by motor vehicles, they can reach the press club through Davis Road, Durand Road (Queen Mary College), Abbot Road or Empress Road: parking will be available at all of these spots.

As the march and celebrations conclude at 3pm, none of the participants will be allowed to immediately walk to The Mall; they will be expected to disperse from other routes.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2020