More than 1500 women marched in Lahore from Nasir Bagh to the Punjab Assembly, under the banner of the Women Workers' Help Line (WWHL) to celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8.
Despite prevailing fear among the people of Lahore after an early morning suicidal attack in Model Town, women workers, including home-based workers, domestic workers, brick kiln and embellishment workers, made their way to observe the IWD.
To show solidarity with victims of the morning blast, WWHL cancelled its musical program and decided to celebrate the day in a simple manner.
The rally marched to the Punjab Assembly. Led by WWHL leaders, the participants chanted full-throated slogans against repressive anti-women and anti-worker laws. They held placards and banners inscribed with demands in favour of women workers.
Among the participants there were a large number of young girls, who sang revolutionary songs.
Participants wearing red dupattas (scarfs) around their necks marched in a disciplined manner behind the main banner, which read "Women's struggle to continue until the end of all injustices and discrimination against women".
The rally had a true radical colour and mood as participants chanted anti-capitalist slogans all the way. The main slogans included: "End economic injustice"; "No to violence against women"; "Women want equal rights"; "Long live socialism"; "End discriminatory laws against women"; "Down with US imperialism"; "No to capitalism"; and "No to extremism".
WWHL leaders addressed the marchers, explaining that women workers are the most marginalised section of Pakistani society. They face a number of problems, including social and economic repression in the shape of denial of their just rights by the state and society.
Speakers condemned the extremist forces and capitalists who were joining hands to crush women's rights. Solidarity messages sent by various international organisations were read out.
WWHL chairperson Azra Shad said women workers had dared to come out on the roads despite the prevailing fear. She said women workers were deprived of fundamental rights, adding that they should be given equal wages to men.
She urged the Punjab government to legalise the katchi abadis (informal settlements) in Lahore.
Labour Party Pakistan spokesperson Farooq Tariq addressed the crowd and urged the government to issue social security cards to home-based women workers. He said women workers should be given the minimum wage.
[Bushra Khaliq is the general secretary of the Women Workers' Help Line.]