When police officers were filmed dragging 75-year-old classical dancer and activist Sheema Kermani from outside the Karachi Press Club earlier this month, the incident quickly became more than a controversy over the Aurat March alone. For critics of Pakistan’s ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh, the episode highlighted the growing use of state control, policing and political red lines to curb feminist, Sindhi and Baloch voices, that too in a province projected as the country’s most liberal political space. “You [referring to the police officers] cannot drag me like this … I am 75 years old,” Kermani says in a viral video, as officers appear to pull her by the arms. Footage circulating widely on social media shows her surrounded by police officers, with some of them dragging and mistreating her.Kermani was not alone. Others were also reportedly detained by the police.A renowned classical dancer, cultural activist, and founder of Tehrik-e-Niswan, Kermani has long been a prominent voice against injustice in Pakistan. Over the decades, she has spoken out against authoritarianism and continued to advocate for human rights in the country.News of the incident on May 5 sparked public anger when Kermani was mistreated. Organisers of the Aurat March, a women’s rights group that always leads the March 8 movement for women’s rights, were also detained while preparing to hold a press conference at the Karachi Press Club to demand a non-objection certificate (NOC) for the Aurat March on May 10. Despite repeated requests for the NOC, the organisers did not receive a positive response from the Sindh government. As a result, they decided to hold a press conference instead. However, the Sindh police mistreated them and barred them from holding it. The organisers came under fire and were effectively caught between institutional delays and administrative resistance. In response, the Sindh government denied any direct involvement in the mistreatment and claimed they were unaware of the incident.When The Wire spoke to Kermani about mistreatment by the police, she said in a courageous voice, “It is not about me [Sheema Kermani]; it is about every woman who suffers. It was neither the first time, nor will it be the last.”NOC came with authoritarian demandsShehzadi Rai, 38, told The Wire that this was their eighth Aurat March, and each time they had to go through a lengthy process to obtain a simple NOC. This time, Aurat March organisers assumed that, after being made to wait, they would eventually be allowed to hold the march. It was, however, different as the NOC was issued with authoritarian demands. “Obviously, we refused to accept those demands,” Rai said.Rai is an activist, the first councillor from the trans community at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), and the founder of the Sindh Moorat March, a group advocating for trans community rights. She is also an organiser of the Aurat March.Rai further stated that the Sindh government strictly imposed restrictions on the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch. Surprisingly, the government also placed restrictions on women’s clothing. Initially, five demands were discussed.Rai argued with the authorities regarding the ban on BYC, even though it was not officially proscribed by the Pakistani state. “It was also illegal,” she said. However, officials responded by saying, “Who log arrest kar lain gaye (They [referring to forces] will arrest the BYC members, if they join).”Rai further added that at 9:30 pm, NOC was issued with more than 20 demands. She expressed surprise at how the government restricted a simple march with such heavy and authoritarian conditions.NOC issued by official authorities. Photo by arrangement.The government’s NOC included 28 demands such as no slogans against the state or religion; no promotion of LGBTQ issues; no participant should wear objectionable clothing; no involvement of banned organisations such as BYC and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM); no placards with objectionable remarks; no speeches against the ideology of Pakistan or state policies; and no statements against the Pakistan Armed Forces. Speakers were also prohibited from spreading hatred among communities or promoting extremism.Kermani described these as “fascist demands” and said they were even worse than those under dictator Zia-ul-Haq. When asked whether the PPP is a pro-women’s rights political party, Kermani laughed and responded, “Do you really believe that PPP is a pro-women’s political party?”Aurat March surrenderedAurat March issued a statement saying that it would not accept the demands and would not surrender. However, the announcement sparked mixed reactions on social media. Many people criticised the Sindh government for silencing voices, while oppressed Sindhi and Baloch communities also joined in the criticism and expressed their disappointment with Aurat March.“Whatever happened, Aurat March did surrender, despite saying that it would not,” said Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a leader of the BYC. Sabiha questioned that if Aurat March had said it would not surrender, then why were oppressed groups such as the Baloch and Sindhi people not allowed to speak out against the state’s brutal policies? Sabiha also appreciated Aurat March for raising voice for Baloch. Further, Sabiha underlined that the Sindh government did not just ban the BYC and JSQM, rather, the state is afraid of Sindhi and Baloch identities. Sabiha said that Baloch and Sindhi people do not expect Aurat March or any activist group to lead an oppressed march.Dr. Sorath Sindhu, a political activist, criticised PPP for bringing dictatorial actions back. However, surprised at Aurat March for taking a compromised position. She said that she did not oppose the march and had often supported it in the past. Sindhu questioned, for example, that if the march organisers said they did not accept the authoritarian demands, then how were they allowed to hold the march? She also asked whether the march spoke against the 28 demands or discussed the Moro incident. According to her, they did not raise difficult issues. Unfortunately, she said, the march never brought up any major issue that could have become a highlight; instead, it only touched on issues that were already in the public spotlight.Sindhu expressed disappointment, saying that accepting the demands meant promoting the state’s narrative. “Aurat March did not lead oppressed Sindhis and Baloch, they led the state’s narrative under the 28 demands,” Sindhu said.Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, a senior political activist and columnist, said, “If you allow restricted demands, this will continue. The government dictates the march, and it is no longer independent. The government did not just ban the BYC or JSQM; instead, it made sure that Sammi and Sorath were not part of the march, so that Sindhis and Baloch could not represent it. We saw that Sammi and Sorath were not there, and oppressed people were barred from attending the march.” He criticised the PPP and called it anti-people. He said that the PPP had created a mafia in the form of Bahria Town. Such authoritarian demands, he added, did not surprise any Sindhi or Baloch.Never wanted to leave the spaceKermani was adamant and rejected the criticism directed at the Aurat March, saying that they did not want to give up the space. She said if Aurat March had allowed the government to stop them from holding the march, then it would have been difficult to reclaim that space later. Kermani added that if women were arrested, it would be even harder to gather women the next time, especially labourers.“Political movements need to be strategic; some people have to step forward to give voice. Resistance should remain alive,” Kermani said.Talpur asked whether Mahrang Baloch and other BYC leaders, who have been in jail for more than a year, had ever compromised or said that they should not give up the space. “Mahrang and the BYC leaders have never agreed to such terms and are paying the price for standing up for what is right. The government’s pressure will never stop; today the government imposed these demands, and tomorrow it will ask the same of others,” he said.Sindhu suggested that while earlier compromised political parties in government used to keep saying that they did not want to give up space, “now, we have seen that political parties’ compromises for power have left no room for democracy.”“Now, we do not need a compromised space. We need space for the people. We need a revolutionary space. A compromised space may allow you to hold a gathering; however, it will not allow you to stand up against an authoritarian system,” Sindhu said.Meanwhile, Sabiha pointed out that “this is our struggle, this is our movement for rights”. “We never put a heavy burden on the soft shoulders of Aurat March. The way others hold the Basant festival, let them do whatever they want.”Sabiha, however, added that Sindhi and Baloch women were missing as the government imposed a ban on oppressed Sindhis and Balochs in the march.