New Delhi, Dec 25: Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS) and #No_More_Pakistan team offered deep condolences and paid rich tributes to Baloch freedom activist Karima Baloch who was allegedly killed by the Pakistani ISI in Canada’s Toronto city on Sunday last.
The body of 37-year-old Karima Baloch was found on Toronto's Centre Island in Canada on Monday where she had gone for a walk.
FANS National organizing Secretary Golok Bihari Rai and Prof. Mehtab Alam Rizvi, Coordinator of #No_More_Pakistan team offered deepest condolences to the family #BalochNation living abroad or in occupied #Balochistan. They alleged that Karima Baloch was killed by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
Talking to www.newsbharati.com they said that Karima Baloch was actively and closely associated with #No_More_Pakistan movement of the FANS and had attended online webinars on the issue in the past.
Reposing solidarity and support to ‘Independent Balochistan’ they said, “We, FANS and #No_More_Pakistan team are together with Baloch Nation in this sorrowful time.
According to a report published in The Guradian, Karima Baloch, a leading Baloch activist was found dead in Canada’s Toronto city where she was living in exile since 2016. Her husband suspected a foul play in her death.
The 37-year-old Karima Baloch was an active leader of the Free Balochistan movement and was the first chairperson of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO-Azad). She was listed by the BBC in its list of 100 most inspirational and influential women of 2016 for her work in the field of human rights.
After moving to Canada Karima Baloch was more vocal about human rights abuses in her home province and across Pakistan. She regularly spoke at conferences, addressed media and attended protest rallies in Canada.
Karima Baloch happens to be the second Pakistani dissident from Balochistan living in exile to be found dead this year. Earlier, in May, Sajid Hussain, a journalist who wrote about human rights violations in Balochistan was found dead in a river in Sweden where he had sought asylum following threats to his life in Pakistan.
Karima had gone for a walk on Sunday on Toronto’s Centre Island as usual but never returned. Her body was discovered on the island next day, as per the Twitter post of Toronto Police.
Karima’s husband, Hammal Haider, who is also living in exile, suspected a foul play in this case. Describing Karima as a ‘strong lady’ he ruled out the possibility of suicide. “We can’t rule out foul play as she has been under threats. She left Pakistan as her home was raided more than twice. Her uncle was killed. She was threatened to leave activism and political activities but she did not and fled to Canada”, he said.
Amnesty International described Karima's death as “deeply shocking”. The human rights organization demanded immediate and effective investigation into the case so that the perpetrators of the crime be brought to justice at the earliest.