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Aurat March Karachi Postponed Amid Indo-Pak Conflict
Aurat March Karachi 2025 has been postponed due to the ongoing war-like situation between India & Pakistan. Organisers vow to continue the struggle for rights.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-08
Aurat March Karachi Postponed Amid Indo-Pak Conflict

KARACHI: The organisers of Aurat March Karachi announced on Thursday the postponement of this year’s march — originally scheduled for May 11 (Mother’s Day) — in light of the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, citing serious safety and logistical concerns.

The decision came just a day after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting multiple sites in Pakistan. The Pakistani government confirmed that 31 civilians were killed and 57 injured in the attacks. In a swift retaliation, Pakistan shot down five Indian jets, destroyed strategic installations near the Line of Control, and downed 25 Indian drones, according to a statement from DG ISPR on Thursday.

Amid this tension, Pakistan also suspended flight operations in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot.

In their statement posted to Instagram, Aurat March Karachi organisers said, “This decision was not made easily or quickly — especially in light of how hard we voluntarily work all year round to bring people out on the streets.” They emphasised how conflict and national security narratives create added vulnerabilities for women, trans, and non-binary communities, especially those from working-class backgrounds.

The group acknowledged the increased risks of surveillance, violence, and fear of movement in the current climate, explaining that these very risks undermine the essence of what the march stands for — visibility, resistance, and collective empowerment.

Importantly, they clarified that the march is postponed, not cancelled. “Our fight continues,” the statement read, reaffirming core demands including social security, reproductive healthcare, housing rights, labour protections, maternal care, and recognition of unpaid domestic work.

“These are not secondary to national concerns — they are national concerns. And we will keep organising around them until we are back on the streets,” the organisers declared.

They also added a new demand in response to the regional crisis: that the Pakistani state pursue a diplomatic and peaceful resolution, rejecting war as an answer to national security concerns.

In a poignant note, they reminded followers: “War — or even the potential for it — pushes back all struggles for rights, especially the feminist struggle.” They closed with a message of solidarity, offering “feminist pyaar and salam” to all contributors to the campaign — from donors to artists, advocates, and volunteers.

The Aurat March has been a vital force in Pakistan’s feminist landscape since 2018, amplifying the voices of those routinely excluded from policy and public discourse.
Tagged:

PakistanIndiaTensions

AuratMarch2025

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