• Leading activists Farzana Bari, Tahira Abdullah among 44 people detained
• Police cite Section 144, denial of NoC as reasons for declaring gathering ‘illegal’
• NCHR, PFUJ, PPP condemn arbitrary arrests, manhandling of women
ISLAMABAD: Dozens of women’s rights activists, including members of the Aurat March, students and journalists, were detained by police on Sunday, ahead of a planned rally on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Police sources told Dawn that the activists were taken into custody near Super Market in Sector F-6. They had planned to reach the National Press Club, but a large contingent of police was already present there, which rounded up the marchers and took them to Women Police Station.
According to police, a total of 44 participants were arrested, including 25 men and 19 women.
Those detained include prominent activist Dr Farzana Bari and her daughters, activist Tahira Abdullah, along with other Aurat March organisers, students, and activists who were participating in the march. Islamabad Police said they had informed Ms Bari about the imposition of Section 144 in the capital through a letter on Saturday, sources said, while police added that the district administration had denied a no-objection certificate (NoC) to the Aurat March, making the gathering an “illegal activity.”
Civil society activist Tariq Mehmood Ghouri told Dawn that as per the information gathered so far, more than 25 men and women were arrested. He said some people who went to the Women Police Station to meet the arrested marchers were also detained.
“They have been told to sit in another lockup and are not being allowed to go outside,” Ghouri said.
Replying to a question, he said that the marchers had gathered near Super Market and had no intention to head towards D-Chowk. He also alleged that marchers were manhandled by police.
Aurat March Islamabad also shared a video on their official Instagram account, showing Ms Bari and other women sitting inside what appeared to be a police vehicle.
Outcry over arrests
Participants of the march condemned the arrests, stating that detaining women on International Women’s Day was highly regrettable. They demanded immediate action against those responsible for the police action.
In a statement, Aurat March Islamabad said: “We strongly condemn the arrests of Aurat March participants and organisers who were peacefully exercising their right to protest.
“The detention of those who even went to the police station to seek the release of their comrades is deeply unjust and unacceptable.”
Demanding the immediate release of those arrested, Aurat March said, “For everyone’s safety, we request all participants to please disperse and return home to avoid further arrests.”
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in their separate statements, expressed concern over reports regarding the arrest of Aurat March participants.
The NCHR said that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right for all citizens.
The PFUJ also condemned arbitrary arrest, manhandling of women rights activists and journalists in Islamabad.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari have strongly condemned the high-handedness of Islamabad police and the federal administration in arresting and manhandling peaceful participants of the Aurat March, including three women journalists, on International Women’s Day.
PPP’s Human Rights Cell also strongly condemned the registration of police cases against the Aurat March leadership, terming the state’s high-handedness a direct assault on the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Earlier, Aurat March Karachi had announced the postponement of the march due to Ramazan.
Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2026
