Cyclists join women’s day event

Islamabad : To mark International Women’s Day a number of organisations/groups held a solidarity gathering in front of the Islamabad press club. Carrying banners and placards men, women and children joined to celebrate the day, while activists made speeches and tried to get their point of view and their demands heard – if anyone was listening! It was good to see a few men and women from different countries also taking part in the proceedings, along with cyclists from Critical Mass Islamabad (CMI). It was noticed that the presence of policemen and policewomen – and maybe other ‘security’ persons - did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who were present. Missing were the well-known activists one usually sees at such events but it was probably because they were busy elsewhere.

There was a festive as well as determined atmosphere in the air as banners like, ‘Say No to War;’ “Women/Girls just wanna have fundamental rights;’ ‘Women; Step up to Stop it Violence, Abuse and Discrimination,’ and others along similar lines were waved – even by the males who were present.

Center stage of this gathering was a group of women that appeared to be from Cholistan/Thar judging by their very colorful outfits but maybe they were not as women from the area usually cover their faces in public gatherings. Because of the crowd it was difficult to go up and question them. Anyway, they were sitting under a banner on a van which read, “Aurat Azadi March” (Women’s freedom march) and slogans were being shouted out on a megaphone by an activist standing on the vehicle, to which those standing nearby responded in resounding voices. Needless to say selfies’ and photographs were the order of the day.

What was noticeable to those who are observant was a small group of men – about twenty or so - that were not taking part in the ‘celebration/activism’ but standing to one side and minding their own business. They were being photographed and their interview taken by a couple of media persons. One of them carried a flag which looked familiar but it could not be identified in the list given on Google. Of course this led to speculation about who these people were, but again, there was no dampening of the spirits of those who were present.

As more awareness takes place, gathering such as this are getting bigger and better so all power to those who take the trouble to organize them.