KARACHI: Thousands upon thousands of people turned up at various Aurat (or Women) Marches held across various Pakistani cities on Sunday, with ultra right-wing groups holding Haya (Honour) March and women labourers organising yet another one to mark International Women's Day.
Sukkur, Multan, and Toba Tek Singh commemorated International Women's Day for the first time as a rally.
Police officers (R) escort participants carrying placards during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Rizwan Tabassum
A participant holds a placard during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Rizwan Tabassum
A participant holds a placard — that reads "Respect our bodies, our words, our thoughts, our labor" — during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
A kid holds a placard — that reads "Angry women will change the world" — during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
A protesters holds a placard — that reads "This march is more than just the posters and slogans that will go viral" — during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
A protester holds a placard — that reads "I march for the rape victims and the unheard stories" — during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
Activist Laila Raza speaks on the stage during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
"It shows people are hopeful for a better future and the turnout is so wholesome despite the threats made against us," said Yumi, a 20-year-old who only gave their first name.
A protester holds a placard — that reads "IMAGINE Not Loving The Women in your Life Enough To Advocate For Their Rights" — during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
A participant holds a placard during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Rizwan Tabassum
A participant holds a placard during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Rizwan Tabassum
Activists of the Aurat Azadi (Woman Freedom) March shout slogans during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Aamir Qureshi
Activists of the Aurat March carry placards as they march during a rally to mark International Women's Day in Lahore, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Arif Ali
A protesters holds a placard — that reads "I'm ashamed I can attend this when women were threatened to stay inside" — during the Aurat March to mark International Women’s Day in Karachi, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. Geo.tv/Haseem uz Zaman
"I feel amazing and accepted, I am free to express who I am. It's a huge safe space, people from all backgrounds are here," said Abeera, who declined to give their last name due to safety concerns.
"It's a great privilege to be able to walk and speak for people who are unable to voice the challenges they face."
'Anti-Feminist'
On the other hand, supporters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) in Peshawar and of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Islamabad took out counter-rallies on International Women's Day, with dozens of women in burqas holding their own placards — including one saying "Anti-Feminist" — while shouting "Our bodies, God's choice".
Burqa-clad female activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) carry placards during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Abdul Majeed
Burqa-clad female activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) carry placards during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Abdul Majeed
Burqa-clad female activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) carry placards during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Peshawar, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Abdul Majeed
Veiled female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) carry placards during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Aamir Qureshi
Veiled female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) carry placards during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Aamir Qureshi
In the federal capital, tensions ratcheted up when the "anti-feminist" rally came face-to-face with thousands of people calling for greater reproductive and other rights. The one barrier between them was a flimsy one aside from a line of police officers.
According to one of the counter-protesters, women's rights activists were "naive" and being exploited by non-government groups and a foreign "lobby".
"We are free and to live our lives are according to Sharia [Islamic law]," she said.
Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) hold placards as they march during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Lahore, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Arif Ali
Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) hold placards as they march during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Lahore, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Arif Ali
Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) hold placards as they march during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Lahore, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Arif Ali
Supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) hold placards as they march during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Lahore, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Arif Ali
Veiled female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) carry placards during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 8, 2020. AFP/Aamir Qureshi
Updated Monday Mar 09 2020 
