Ottawa: Balochistan youth activist Karima Baloch was found dead under suspicious circumstances on a lake shore in the city of Toronto, Canada. Karima made headlines in 2016 when she recorded a video message on Raksha Bandhan for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It said that we consider you our brother. She also urged PM Modi to speak against war crimes in Balochistan,
She went missing at around 3 pm on Sunday under suspicious circumstances. Toronto police had sought help from the public in finding her. Meanwhile, her body was found in a lake near Toronto. Her husband Hammal Haider and brother identified the body. The cause of death is not clear at the moment. The Baloch National Movement has declared a 40-day mourning for the activist.
Karima was a leading female activist in Balochistan. She made her mark as the leader of the Baloch Students Organization (Azad). This organization raised the voice of Balochistan students and advocated the liberation of Balochistan from Pakistan. She was also the first woman president of the Baloch Student Organization.
The Pakistan government banned the Baloch Students Organization (Azad) on 15 March 2013, calling it a terrorist organization.
Fearing for her life, Karima Baloch, who had been vocal about Pakistan Army and government atrocities in Balochistan, escaped from Pakistan in 2016 and took refuge in Canada.