ISLAMABAD: The capital police have registered a case against the organisers of Aurat March for staging a protest on March 8 in violation of section 144.

The case was registered at Kohsar police station under section 188 and 341 of PPC and section 8 of Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024.

The case was registered in response to a complaint lodged by area magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio on Thursday.

According to the FIR, the area magistrate has made a video on social as evidence in which he saw Farzana Bari leading a over 150 women’s rally marching towards the National Press Club on March 8, where they staged a protest.

Besides, president Muslim Students Federation Bilal Rabani and central joint secretary Pakistan Nazaryati Party Abdul Shakoor along with 60 men and men also reached the press club to join the protest.

As he was in Super Market, he and police personnel tried to intercept the Aurat Marchers led by Ms Barri but in vain, and both the groups blocked Shaheed-i-Milat Road.

Area Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio inquired about the matter from his office and came to know that no NOC had been issued for the march and the protest.

As the deputy commissioner had imposed section 144 of CrPC in Islamabad banning all kinds of protest, so the Aurat March and the protests were illegal.

Ms Barrai, Bilal Rabani and Abdul Shakoor violated the order of DC and the ban imposed by the DC, it added.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2025