TORONTO: Canadian police authorities have officially declared activist Karima Mehrab Baloch’s death as ‘non-criminal’ in nature.
Earlier, Pakistan had requested the Canadian government to conduct an investigation into Karima Baloch’s death and sought its inquiry report.
Responding to a Pakistan High Commission request seeking information on the cause of death, the Toronto Police Service said her disappearance had been reported on December 20, 2020, by a family member.
“An exhaustive search was commenced by officers which sadly resulted in the location of the deceased on December 21, 2020,” it explained.
The police said the officer in charge reported the details to the family shortly thereafter. “After a thorough investigation, officers determined that this was a non-criminal death and that no foul play was suspected.”
The cause of death assessment is expected to put to rest conspiracy theories regarding the activist’s death being the result of some kind of foul play, it added.
Copies of the medical certificate of death and a statement of death, along with the flight schedule of the body’s arrival in Pakistan today was also attached by the Canadian authorities.
On 21 December 2020, Baloch political activist Karima Baloch had been found dead in Toronto, Canada. Baloch, who was living in exile in Canada for about five years, had gone missing on 20 December.
Toronto Police said Baloch was last seen in the Bay Street and Queens Quay West area on Sunday. Queens Quay is a prominent street in the Harbourfront neighborhood of Toronto. Police reported several hours later that Baloch had been “located”.
“On Monday, December 21, 2020, a 37-year-old woman was located deceased. It is currently being investigated as a non-criminal death and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances,” Caroline de Kloet, Toronto Police’s media relations officer, said in an email response.
