Baloch HRC expresses concern over 'inconsistencies' in Canada's response to Karima Baloch's killing

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau/ Pic/AFP

The Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada (BHRC-Canada), on Monday, voiced deep apprehension over the Canadian Government's perceived inconsistencies in its response to the mysterious death of prominent Balochistan rights activist, Karima Baloch, in December 2020, in Toronto. The organization raises concerns about the government's handling of this case and its implications for justice and human rights.

Karima Baloch's lifeless body was discovered near Lake Ontario on Toronto Island on December 22, 2020, a tragic event that sent shockwaves through the Baloch community. Despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, the Toronto Police concluded, within forty-eight hours of the discovery, that "no foul play was suspected." This swift conclusion puzzled many, especially considering that Baloch had received grave death threats from the ISI, a fact known to both the government of Canada and the Toronto Police.

What further deepens the concern is the apparent contrast in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's response to this high-profile case compared to other instances. While he has made impassioned speeches in the House of Commons and garnered extensive international media coverage for cases like the shooting death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, his silence regarding Karima's death has not gone unnoticed. BHRC-Canada raises questions about the government's consistency and fairness in addressing human rights violations in Balochistan by the Pakistan Army.

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"Prime Minister Mr Justin Trudeau's conspicuous silence regarding the high-profile, unexplained death of Ms. Karima Baloch a prominent Balochistan human rights defender-stands in stark contrast to his impassioned speeches in the House of Commons and extensive international media coverage concerning the shooting death of Mr Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. This discrepancy raises concerns about the Canadian Government's consistency and fairness, particularly with regard to its handling of Balochistan's ongoing human rights violations by the Pakistan Army," the BHRC-Canada's statement read.

It further suggested that the Canadian Government's reluctance to impartially address Baloch's death may be influenced by electoral considerations.

Their statement further read, "BHRC-Canada believes that the Canadian Government's apparent reluctance to address Ms Baloch's death impartially may be linked to electoral considerations. The Baloch community in Canada is relatively small and lacks the electoral influence to significantly impact the selection of representatives in Parliament. It is important to note that the Baloch community in Canada has consistently upheld and supported the secular, democratic values of Canadian society."

The organisation insists that PM Trudeau and his Liberal Party Government must provide a transparent and just response to the quest for justice in the case of Karima Baloch. ‘She dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and freedom of Balochistan from tyranny and Pakistani military occupation,' they wrote. Despite past appeals and correspondence over the past two years, it appears that these concerns have gone unnoticed, possibly due to electoral considerations, they added.

BHRC-Canada additionally underscored the importance of treating all individuals equally, irrespective of race, creed, or political contributions.