KARACHI: Amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, Aurat March Karachi has announced the postponement of this year’s march, citing heightened security concerns and the increased vulnerability of marginalised communities.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the organisers said the decision followed “extensive deliberation” and acknowledged how difficult it was, given the months of volunteer-led planning that go into the annual mobilisation.
“We recognise the importance of this march for our communities, particularly for women, trans, and non-binary individuals from working-class backgrounds, who use this space to reclaim their voices and challenge power,” the statement read.
However, they noted that the prevailing war-like climate has led to a surge in surveillance, threats of violence, and restricted mobility—factors that disproportionately affect those already at risk.
“This is a postponement, not a cancellation—because our struggle continues,” they affirmed, reiterating demands for reproductive healthcare, housing, social security, labour protections, recognition of unpaid care work, and safety from violence. “These aren’t distractions from national concerns—they are national concerns.”
The statement also urged the government to choose diplomacy over conflict, criticising the diversion of resources from essential services to militarisation.
“Every rupee spent on war is a rupee denied to hospitals, schools, food programmes, and clean water,” the organisers added. “It’s not those who start wars who suffer most—it’s those already living in scarcity.”
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