Aurat March stages demo against Iddat case verdict

ISLAMABAD: Protesters made speeches and chanted slogans to condemn the Iddat case verdict against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife in a demonstration organised by the Aurat March in front of the National Press Club here on Tuesday.

They displayed placards inscribed with slogans such as “Meri Shadi Meri Marzi”, Aurat Ka Jism Siyasi Hareefun Ka Maidan Nahi”, “Iddat case decision is an attack on women rights”, and “Iddat case fuels Islamophobes.”

In a statement released on the occasion, the Aurat March participants expressed concern over the decision by a criminal court. It said the verdict could be devastating for all Pakistani women. “The verdict is a manifestation of unequal marriage laws that establish men’s superiority and control in marital relationships and is an attempt to reinforce patriarchal control over women’s bodies.”

The protesters urged the higher courts to overturn this decision. “Failure to do so will establish a precedent that could be exploited by the judiciary itself that is historically inclined towards anti-women rulings. Such a ruling will give a tool in the hands of men to further sabotage and control women in their lives.” They said that in family matters, women’s witness must be considered conclusive. They demanded that the state take immediate action to redress lacunas in family laws to safeguard women’s rights and bodily autonomy.

Eminent activist Farzana Bari said it took 27 years of effort to prove that the Hudood Ordinance was against Islamic principles. “Now this decision will have serious implications on women’s rights. Through this protest, we are trying to give a message to the superior judiciary that women rights should not be violated in this way through judicial decisions.”

Human rights defender Tahira Abdullah said this protest was not in favour of any political party. She said they still remembered what happened to Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto and Kulsoom Nawaz. “How can a court interfere in domestic family matters?” She said, adding that this decision was a demonstration of hatred for women. Former Senator Farhatullah Babur termed the decision a dark spot on the judicial system of Pakistan. He said he joined the protest because this decision was the problem of any political party that believed in basic human rights and gender equality. He condemned those behind the case and said that this decision was a message to all political leaders and future prime ministers that besides prison and hanging, they would also face character assassination.

Uzma Yaqoob and Huda Burgari termed the decision an attack on the women dignity, privacy and body autonomy. They said this decision would be remembered as a disgrace in the judicial history of Pakistan. They demanded that the superior courts take immediate action and declare this decision null and void.