Overview
- Police detained at least 25 participants on March 8 in Islamabad’s F-6 area and moved many to the G-7 Women Police Station, citing a standing ban on public gatherings.
- A police station list identified 19 detained women, including Dr Farzana Bari and Tahira Abdullah, while earlier tallies reported 14 arrests and counts varied across sources.
- Organisers and rights advocates alleged families and lawyers were denied access to detainees, and police warned those protesting at the station could face action under Section 188.
- The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the detentions and said it will petition the court for the activists’ release and an inquiry into police conduct.
- Police said no FIR had been registered and some detainees could be released, though separate reports indicated some were briefly held and later freed.