Imran Javed Aziz vs. Federation of Pakistan through Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Writ Petition No. 753/2020

The petition was filed seeking a writ to regulate activities that are expected to take place in the International Women's Day "Aurat March" in Pakistan. The petitioners apprehend that slogans would be raised by women's organizations, which would be offensive and in violation of Islamic injunctions. The slogans would allegedly disturb harmony in society and offend established norms. In dismissing the petition, the court denounced cultural norms tolerating and even supporting violence against women such as child marriage, rape and honor killings. The court referred to practices such as Karokari (honor killing of a female family member believed to have engaged in premarital or extramarital relations), Swara and Wani (women and girls given in marriage or servitude as compensation to settle a dispute) as "heinous traditions." According to the court, the words inscribed on placards should be viewed as demanding outrage against such inhuman traditions and mindsets. While cautioning the proponents of the march to exercise their rights following the norms of decency, it held that the petition is not maintainable and its prayer is not justiciable.