“This is a reminder and a recognition of the services of our brothers in Pakistan,” said Peter Bhatti, founder and chairman of International Christian Voice Canada. “We want to give the message that we should be united and due to interfaith dialogue we can make a difference in Pakistan.”
Held at Chandni Garden Banquet Hall, the event begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs until 2:30 p.m.
This is the fourth year the Pakistani event has been celebrated in Canada and Bhatti is calling on Canadians to support efforts to end discrimination against minorities in Pakistan.
“We ask for you to support us to make a culture where people will not hate one another,” said Bhatti, who came to Canada from Pakistan in 1997.
He continued by saying that Christians in Pakistan, an overwhelmingly Muslim state, “are living in fear ... because of the extremism and intolerance that is going on and created day by day.”
His younger brother Shahbaz, who founded International Christian Voice's global entity, fought diligently for the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan. Through these efforts the younger Bhatti became Pakistan's first Christian member of parliament and was Federal Minister of Minorities before being assassinated on March 2, 2011 for his political stance. Among the issues Shahbaz Bhatti fought for was the reform of blasphemy laws which are frequently abused to settle disputes and rivalries which stem from issues unrelated to religion.
Even if there isn't a conviction the accusations alone can cause social exile, especially if the accused isn't Muslim.
While Shahbaz Bhatti's assassination as a high profile political figure made international news, the elder brother said it is but one example of countless Christians who continue to suffer oppression each year in Pakistan.
And that's exactly what International Christian Voice, a human rights advocacy group, is trying to curb by raising support through events like this.
“My brother sacrificed his life for the people around the world,” said Bhatti. “Religion doesn't have any business of the state. Everyone should be free to practise their faith.”
Bhatti was expecting somewhere between 150 and 200 people to attend the event.