LAHORE: Information minister of the Punjab caretaker government Amir Mir has said that the government will provide security to the participants in the Aurat March on March 8 (Wednesday).

“Full security will be provided by the police to the participants in the Aurat March in Lahore on March 8. The safety of the women participating in the march will be ensured to avoid any untoward incident,” the minister said responding to a demand by the organisers of the march.

The participants, including women, civil society organisations, transgender community and NGOs working for women rights, of the march will go round Nasser Bagh, the venue of the event.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider had disallowed holding of the march the other day citing general security concerns and fearing a clash of the participants with that of the Haya March being organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami women wing on the same day.

The organisers had moved the Lahore High Court against the DC’s decision.

Mr Mir said the caretaker government believed in personal freedoms and it would not create any obstacles in the Aurat March.

He said orders have been issued to the authorities concerned to provide foolproof security for ensuring a peaceful conduct of the Aurat March.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2023