Pakistan rights body condemns Aurat March leaders' detention at Karachi Press Club
Synopsis
Pakistan's rights watchdog has called the brief detention of Aurat March organisers outside the Karachi Press Club not an isolated overreach but part of a systematic pattern of suppressing dissent — coming just days after media bodies marked World Press Freedom Day by flagging growing curbs on journalists in the country.
Key Takeaways
HRCP condemned the detention of Aurat March organisers outside the Karachi Press Club on 6 May 2025 .
Those detained included activist Sheema Kermani , transgender activist Shehzadi Rai , and Muniza , among others.
SSP Manzoor Ali confirmed the women were taken to a police station before being released shortly after.
HRCP described the incident as part of a "systematic denial of public space" to citizens, particularly women and marginalised groups.
On 2 May 2025 , media bodies including PBA , APNS , and PFUJ flagged growing press freedom concerns in Pakistan on World Press Freedom Day .
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday, 6 May strongly condemned the detention of Aurat March organisers and volunteers outside the Karachi Press Club, where they had gathered to hold a press conference. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, saw police briefly arrest several activists — including prominent artist and activist Sheema Kermani — before releasing them shortly after.
What Happened Outside the Karachi Press Club
According to organisers, police detained Kermani, transgender activist Shehzadi Rai, Muniza, and several other volunteers as they assembled ahead of a scheduled press conference. South Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manzoor Ali confirmed that the women leaders were taken to a police station before being released. Following the incident, police deployment around the Karachi Press Club was visibly increased.
HRCP's Condemnation
The rights body did not mince words in its response. HRCP posted on X:
Point of View
Using pre-emptive detentions to prevent gatherings before they even begin. The timing is particularly pointed: it comes just days after a coalition of Pakistan's major media bodies publicly flagged deteriorating press freedom conditions on World Press Freedom Day. That two separate suppression signals — one targeting civil society, one targeting the press — emerged within a week of each other is not coincidental. It reflects a governance posture increasingly intolerant of organised dissent in any form.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Aurat March leaders detained outside the Karachi Press Club?
Those detained included activist and artist Sheema Kermani, transgender activist Shehzadi Rai, Muniza, and several other Aurat March organisers and volunteers. They were taken to a police station before being released shortly after, according to South SSP Manzoor Ali.
Why did the HRCP condemn the detentions?
The HRCP stated the detentions were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of systematically denying public space to citizens, particularly women and marginalised groups. The rights body argued that preventing a press conference reflects an increasingly repressive approach to governance where dissent is treated as a threat rather than a democratic necessity.
What is Aurat March?
Aurat March is a women-led civil society movement in Pakistan that organises annual marches and public events to advocate for women's rights, gender equality, and the rights of marginalised communities. Its organisers have faced repeated friction with authorities in recent years.
What concerns have Pakistan's media bodies raised recently?
On 2 May 2025, marking World Press Freedom Day, a joint statement by the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), AMEND, and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) flagged growing restrictions on journalists, including harassment, arrests, violence, editorial interference, and censorship.
What happened after the detentions at the Karachi Press Club?
The detained activists were released shortly after being taken to a police station, according to SSP Manzoor Ali. Police deployment around the Karachi Press Club was increased following the incident, according to Geo News.
