Pakistani classical dancer and women’s rights activist Sheema Kirmani has found herself at the centre of a major controversy after videos showing her being escorted and allegedly manhandled by policewomen in Karachi went viral on social media. The incident took place during a protest linked to the upcoming Aurat March, reigniting conversations around women’s rights and freedom of expression in Pakistan. 

Sheema Krimani gets manhandled in Aurat march, Karachi

Kirmani, widely recognised as one of Pakistan’s most prominent Bharatanatyam dancers, was among several activists briefly detained outside the Karachi Press Club. According to reports, Aurat March organisers had gathered to demand a no-objection certificate (NOC) for their annual march when police intervened and detained multiple participants.