World

Two Pakistani women elected in Canadian elections

Both the women won the election against Conservative incumbents

Web Desk October 20, 2015

Salma Zahid and Iqra Khalid PHOTO: THE STAR

Two Pakistani women Salma Zahid and Iqra Khalid, representing the Liberal party, won seats in the Canadian elections 2015 held on Monday.

“Scarborough families tonight voted for real change,” Salma Zahid said as dozens gathered to celebrate her victory. “I will work hard to deliver the results they deserve.”

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Zahid has reclaimed Scarborough Centre for the Liberals by beating the Conservative incumbent Roxanne James who was elected in 2011. Her campaign had focused largely on transit infrastructure, youth employment and moving to repeal the Conservatives’ Bill C-24.

A mother of two, Zahid moved to Scarborough with her family 15 years ago and has since worked as a senior adviser to the Ontario government on health care, infrastructure, citizenship and tourism.

Another Pakistani-Canadian Iqra Khalid also won the election and succeeded in unseating Conservative incumbent Bob Dechert in Mississauga-Erin-Mills. The election was a close one but the Conservative candidate likely lost it due to the party’s anti-Muslim agenda.

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The Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau, son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, led his party to victory in a federal election on Monday, defeating Stephen Harper’s Conservatives by a wide margin.

Trudeau, who took over a party in shambles in 2013, trailed early in the campaign, brushed off by his opponents as being more style than substance and an intellectual lightweight who was not ready for the job.

But a bold pledge to run a budget deficit and boost spending to spur the economy, as well as a positive message and his gregarious nature, helped the Liberals engineer a turnaround.

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The telegenic Trudeau has often drawn large crowds and elicited comparisons to the Kennedy dynasty and the Obama campaigns.

This article originally appeared on The Star

COMMENTS (22)

Rao | 8 years ago | Reply @Rizwan: You mean to say that mentioning a bit about ethnic identity, Shia or Sunni or caste designation kid wrong. Well there is group pride you know that propels people to do good things.

Rizwan | 8 years ago | Reply I beg to differ, two Canadian women got elected, we don't define other candidates elected by race or previous linkages. This would mean Italians, British, French, Indian, Irish, and every other Nationality would need be be mentioned for other elected officials. They were qualified and got elected, race or ethnic labels do not mean anything and are not relevant.

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Sheeda 2.0 | 8 years ago | Reply @Singh: Sardar G please! Your golden words are too much to handle!!!!

Lakhkar Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Singh: Your comment: "If both are Pakistani then where is their Burka or Hijab?" Don't worry, India will be very similar soon if you keep electing Hindu radicals like Modi. Pakistan has their radicals and India has it own. Indian radicals are not any better than Pakistani radicals. Sikhs in India are themselves, if that is what you are, been the victims of Hindu extremists and Indian government. How ironic?

Singh | 8 years ago | Reply If both are Pakistani then where is their Burka or Hijab? What I see from both picture, both are in western attire which you guys hate if anyone wear them in Pakistan.

Abdullah | 8 years ago | Reply @PT: We can label them Pakistani, because the constitution of Pakistan allows its residents to hold dual nationality amongst such nationalities Canada is included hence they are as much Pakistani as any rest of us are, though India doesn`t allow its residents to hold dual citizenship so unlike Pakistan people of Indian origin residing in Canada having Canadian citizenship can`t be called Indian. Please educate yourself @Rationalist: Over seas Pakistanis take pride in their Pakistani heritage and prefer sticking to their roots both in terms of their cultural background and religious obligations, their support for Pakistan can be seen during 14 August & 23rd March celebrations which are a yearly occurrence in Canada and are being organized by the Pakistani community residing in Canda. @Rao: I am sorry but you need to educate yourself as we "Pakistanis" don`t call Canada or for that matter UK, USA etc as "Hurb-ul-Islam" infact we believe on spreading the message of Islam to every corner of the globe. Secondly its a matter of personal preference on how he/she would like to identify himself/herself for them they get the best of both worlds i.e they bring the desi/Pakistani vibe to the Canadian culture through their rich culture, tasty cuisines, religous festivals etc P.s instead of judging others please try to do some self realization. Thankyou

JSM | 8 years ago | Reply Very interestingly, more than 8% of Liberal lawmakers elected are of Indian Punjab origin.

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply Please don't call them Pakistani, for starters they are not even respecting our values and infact they would bend over for their American masters.

Lakhkar Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Asok: Or Shev Senha radical and Canadian?

Malina | 8 years ago | Reply Salma Zahid- wow she was my School teacher way back in 90s in Pakistan. She was born and brought up in Pakistan so is her kids. As far as i remember she was a 'true' Pakistani and now she has been elected In Canada- Surprised

JSM | 8 years ago | Reply 19 Canadians of Indian origin have also won these elections. There is nothing great about what is being celebrated here.

Rao | 8 years ago | Reply You remarks and observations are pretty irrational. Have you realized why the Pakistani parents left their Pure Land to migrate to Canada, USA etc. which you condemn as Hurb-ul-Islam? Because these countries are not Utopias, but there is peace, good governance, and freedom of all kinds. The state cares for you. It is something your country won't and can not provide you for a thousand year. The children born in countries outside Pakistan are not Pakistanis and they can not connect with land of their parents. They do not hate you but you are different in food they eat, manners, value system etc. They are Canadians first and their loyalty is to their land of birth not to a land of violence, lawlessness and terrorism discrimination. Etc. So you can have your little paradise. They don't want it. So think about it and dont spew hatred .

Pakistani-Canadian bechari-awam | 8 years ago | Reply All the one championing the rights of Canadian women of Pakistani descent will be surprised to hear that Pakistani-Canadian are actually Pakistani and Canadian both as they can keep both citizenships. Now don't argue that may be they were born over there so they can't be Pakistani, nope just like my kids they are both ;)

True | 8 years ago | Reply @Rationalist: Keep the comments restricted to your community please. Don't club with other nationalities.

Asim | 8 years ago | Reply Rationalist: Wrong what you said. We have a big and good Pakistani community here and these ladies represent us. We are Pakistani-Canadians (or Canadian-Pakistanis) having influenced by and influencing Canadian culture by keeping our roots to Pakistan.

Moiz Omar | 8 years ago | Reply I disagree with the Liberals on a couple of a things, but they were my preferred choice. Glad Harper is gone though.

Asok | 8 years ago | Reply Both Canada and Pakistan allow dual citizenship, so why are people here so sure they are not Pakistanis? They are probably as Pakistani as Tahir-ul-Qadri.

Naeem Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Congratulations to Salma Zahid and Iqra.Khalid.

Rationalist | 8 years ago | Reply They are not Pakistani, they are Canadians of Pakistani ethnicity. Most people don't realize that Pakistani women born in Canada view Pakistan with hatred and contempt. They even hate their parents. Its the same with Indians. These women treat their own kind with disrespect and sort of look down on them.

PT | 8 years ago | Reply "Two Pakistani women Salma Zahid and Iqra Khalid..." No, they are not Pakistani women. They are Canadian, or Canadians of Pakistani origin. You can't just label them as "Pakstani".

Bass | 8 years ago | Reply Who say these are Pakistanis

Aamir - Toronto | 8 years ago | Reply Glad to see Liberal winning the election with clear majority !!!! Hate the politics of fear-mongering and hate-mongering.

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