This week activists and human rights defenders gather outside the National Press Club in Islamabad to protest against the controversial unlawful marriage case involving former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The conviction, issued on February 3, resulted in the annulment of their marriage during Bushra Bibi’s Iddat period.

The protesters expressed outrage at the court’s verdict, viewing it as an attack on women’s dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy. They emphasized that such interference in personal matters, especially related to women’s bodies and menstruation, is unacceptable and condemnable. The activists stressed the importance of gender-just family laws, advocating for women’s testimony to be considered conclusive in such cases.

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Activists highlighted the historical objectification of women in Pakistani society and called for efforts to counter such adversities. Even individuals with political differences, such as former Senator Farhatullah Babar, participated in the protest, warning against the potential threats posed by such verdicts to future political leaders.

Aurat March Islamabad, in its official statement, urged higher courts to overturn the decisions, emphasizing the fundamental right of women to make decisions about their bodies and lives without coercion or interference. They viewed the verdict as a manifestation of unequal marriage laws and patriarchal control over women’s bodies.

Similarly, Women’s Action Forum Lahore expressed discontentment with the verdict, labeling it as an assault on women’s autonomy, dignity, and privacy. Protesters made speeches, chanted slogans, and displayed placards to condemn the verdict, highlighting the importance of women’s rights and autonomy in Pakistani society.