Aurat March Karachi has called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to either apologize or resign following her dismissive comments on an alleged rape case, accusing her of promoting patriarchal narratives that obstruct justice for survivors.
The feminist group behind the annual Women’s Day march expressed outrage over Maryam’s “regressive” statements about the alleged rape of a Lahore student. They criticized her language as harmful and said she was unfit to serve in public office while failing to protect survivors of sexual violence.
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In a press conference, Maryam dismissed reports of the incident as “fabricated” and claimed that the student involved was “completely innocent,” insisting no rape had occurred. She also stated that if it had, she would have acted promptly as a representative of women.
Aurat March condemned these comments, arguing they reinforce harmful patriarchal views tying women’s worth to their sexual history. They highlighted the prevalence of unreported rape cases in Pakistan and emphasized the need for public figures to avoid rhetoric that promotes victim-blaming and undermines the fight for women’s rights.
