A large gathering of women, men, gender minorities, and human rights activists from South Punjab took to the streets of Multan to participate in the Aurat March, calling for equal rights and justice.
The march, which proceeded from Nawanshahr Chowk to the Multan Press Club, aimed to highlight fundamental rights, gender equality, workplace safety, and climate justice. Participants raised slogans and carried placards and banners demanding reforms.
A key focus of the march was the rights of working women in South Punjab, including domestic workers, farmers, teachers, nurses, journalists, and labourers. Their demands included equal pay, financial security, safe workplaces, access to education and healthcare, an end to forced marriages and religious conversions, legal and political representation, and digital rights to combat online harassment and ensure free internet access for all.
Marchers also called for justice for renowned human rights lawyer Rashid Rehman Shaheed, who was assassinated in 2014 in Multan for defending freedom of expression. They urged state institutions and the judiciary to hold his killers accountable and protect human rights defenders.
Advocate Lubna Nadeem described the march as a significant step for social progress. “Rashid Rehman fought against the barriers to justice for women, and we are committed to carrying forward his mission,” she stated.
Organiser Laiba Zainab emphasized that the march stood for the protection of all women and gender minorities. “Our goal is a society where equality, justice, and freedom are guaranteed for all,” she said.
The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to resisting any attempts to suppress the struggle for women’s and human rights.
