“Patriarchy ki vaccine kab ayegi’ (when will vaccine for patriarchy come), “Girls just wanna walk home safe,” “I am raising a boy your daughter will be safe with” and “I just got back from work can you pass me a glass of water” – were some of the bold statements and sassy remarks that were written on posters and placards -  which has gone viral on social media - as a large number of women from across major Pakistani cities came out in large numbers to participate in the Aurat March (Women’s march).

The Aurat March - known for showcasing banners, posters, and placards that highlight women's issues and speak out against injustices prevalent in Pakistani society – this time too continued its tradition at the International Women's Day on March 8 with large rallies being taken out in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and other cities.

Started in 2018, the Aurat March is known for highlighting blunt and bold statements like “Mera jism, meri marzi” (My body, my choice), “Khana khud garam karo” (heat up your own food) that resounds not only in Pakistan but globally too as it hits out at misogyny and patriarchy.

This time too, the slogans took social media by storm. Many people, who couldn’t join the rallies due to COVID restrictions, marked their presence by posting their posters and slogans on social media.

Different chapters of the march issued their own manifestoes. According to The Express Tribune. In Karachi, the focus was on patriarchal violence while in Lahore, the emphasis was on addressing the concerns of the healthcare workers and womens' health in general. In the same way, women in Islamabad highlighted the crisis of care.

The collective demands included "end to gender-based violence by patriarchal forces as well as state-backed violence targeting activists, religious groups and communities and effective and transparent investigation of gender-based crimes and fair and expeditious trials," the newspapers said.

The participants also demanded “criminalisation of virginity tests for victims of rape, setting up of gender-based cells to report violence in police stations, and bringing an end to sexual harassment.”

The organisers also put up a "#MeToo blanket" in which women shared their experiences related to sexual abuse.

Many men – both young and old – too joined the protest. Many held posters with interesting slogans. The few that have gone viral on social media are “Men of quality do not fear equality,” and “I am surrounded by the opposite gender and I feel safe. I want same for them.”

The idea behind Aurat March is that women in Pakistan want to highlight the issues of consent, women’s right over their bodies, equality, abusive marriages, and education for girls. As the event has become bigger and bolder with time, it has irked conservative sections of the society - mostly men - who have termed it as a "vulgar event."

Many politicians, ministers, and notable personalities also took to Twitter to mark International Women’s Day.

Pakistan Prime Minister tweeted: “On Women's Day, we pay tribute to Fatima Jinnah who stood steadfastly beside the Quaid in his struggle for Pakistan. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring women a secure & enabling environment to play their rightful role in our nation's development.” Fatima Jinnah was a Pakistani politician, dental surgeon, stateswoman, and one of the leading founders of Pakistan. She was the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and the first Governor General of Pakistan.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also lauded the contribution of women in different fields.

“Pakistani women contributed immensely for the glory and honour of the country,” Inter-Services Public Relations quoted COAS in a tweet.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), tweeted: “A society without empowered women becomes dysfunctional. I dream of a Pakistan where women excel in every field and play leading roles.”

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood paid tribute to all the women in his life, including his mother, wife, daughters, sisters and his colleagues at work and in politics. "Thank you for making the world a better place," he tweeted.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry used the occasion to encourage girls to opt for science subjects to change their and the country's destiny.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Faisal Subzwari reminded people that respecting women also meant "respecting their liberty of making choices."

He tweeted: “Respect means respecting their liberty of making choices. Let's encourage women of our families. We as a society badly need educated, confident & courageous women. AND NO means NO.”