A significant accomplishment for the Pakistani diaspora, the re-election of two women of Pakistani descent, Iqra Khalid and Salma Zahid, to Canada’s Parliament underscores the increasing contributions of Pakistani-Canadians to Canadian public life.
Iqra Khalid, a liberal incumbent, defeated Erin Mills by more than 5,000 votes to win Mississauga—Erin Mills—for the fourth straight term. As the festivities began, Khalid, overcome with emotion, gave her father a hug. Khalid, who was born in Pakistan, moved to Canada in 1998.
Before going into public service, she attended York University to study criminology and the University of Michigan to study law.
Motion 103, which calls for a national strategy against systemic racism and religious discrimination, was tabled in Parliament by Khalid, who has also served as the chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
