ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has expressed its opposition to the Aurat March, claiming that it was against the norms of the society as well as Islam.

On the other hand, the party leader, Hafiz Saad Rizvi, will lead a procession to Bhara Kahu on Monday (Feb 28) to observe the death anniversary of Mumtaz Qadri.

TLP Rawalpindi Division Emir retired Maj Mohammad Yaqub Saifi on Saturday said the participants of the Aurat March resorted to unethical slogans and opposed holding of the march on the occasion of the International Women Day on March 8.

Earlier, the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had announced that it would use force to block the Aurat March, but it was not clear whether the warning had been issued for Islamabad only.

Mr Saifi further said the party’s central emir, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi, would lead the procession from Khanna Bridge on Monday morning till Bhara Kahu where he would lead prayers on the occasion of Qadri’s death anniversary and also deliver a keynote address at his resting place.

Mumtaz Qadri was an elite force commando who killed former Punjab governor Salman Taseer while on duty with him. He was hanged on Feb 29, 2016 at Adiala Jail.

Yaqub Saifi said initially it was decided that a reception for Hafiz Saad Rizvi would be held at Liaquat Bagh, however, the police and district administration asked the party to shift the venue outside the city due to extraordinary security around the cricket stadium where Pakistan would be playing Australia.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2022