Articles by Afiya Shehrbano Zia

Pakistan’s women are marching against patriarchy, but what is their destination and who is standing in their way? The Aurat March of 2019 faced severe backlash from both conservative as well as like-minded quarters, on account of some hard-hitting slogans and jabs raised against prevalent masculinist social norms. These have brought to the fore some paradoxes within feminist politics, which merit resolution for the sake of the emergence of stronger feminist politics in Pakistan.

YouTube has been banned in Pakistan over a controversial blasphemous fi lm since September 2012. Young Pakistani musicians and advocates have been protesting against the ban claiming it to be political censorship and a human rights violation. However, unless activists climb out of virtual space and challenge the rightwing opposition to reforming the blasphemy law itself, the broader fight for freedom of expression and political liberties will be in vain.