What are the origins and history of discrimination and violence against religious minorities – Ahmedis, Christians, Hindus and Shia? What do fundamentalist organizations such as the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Tehreek-e-Taliban stand for? Who supports them and why? What can decent minded people do to help Pakistan become a tolerant society where all citizens are equal and safe?

Attacks on two Ahmedi mosques killed 86 in May 2010 in Lahore

Houses and shops being torched in Christian community of Joseph in Lahore in March 2013

Hindu temple destroyed in Sindh in December 2012

Shia mourn the death of 200 killed in terrorist attack in Quetta in Jan 2013

Speaker: Dr. Tahir Kamran, a notable historian in Pakistan, currently holds the Allama Iqbal Chair at the University of Cambridge (UK) and has formerly served as the Head of the History Dept. at Government College University, Lahore. He has written four books and over 300 articles specifically on the history of the Punjab, sectarianism, democracy, and governance.

SURREY – Saturday, Aug 17, 1.30 p.m. – Strawberry Hill Library, 7399 – 122nd Street
EDMONTON – Sun, Aug 18, 2 p.m. – Edmonton Public Library Auditorium, Whitemud Crossing CALGARY – Monday, Aug 19 or Tuesday, Aug 20
WINNIPEG – Wednesday, Aug 21?
TORONTO – Friday, Aug 23 – Location, Time TBA
MISSISSAUGA – Saturday, August 24 – Location, Time TBA
MONTREAL – Sunday, August 25 – ?

Organized by: Committee of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians
Sponsored by:
Progressive Writers Association (Canada);
Pakistan Development Fund:
Society to Defy Enmity, Encourage Peace (DEEP);