Political parties, rights groups, prominent politicians, activists and the general public alike are enraged over, what has been termed as, ‘abduction’ of the dead body of activist Karima Baloch. Some say that the state is afraid of her lifeless dead body, others claim that the ‘abduction’ of the body is a highly coordinated attempt to suppress the public interest and uprising.
Karima Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist, who died in Canada last December in mysterious circumstances was slated to get buried in her hometown Tump. Her dead body was flown from Canada to Karachi from where she was to be transported to Balochistan for the burial.
The Pakistani authorities seized the dead body along with Karima’s body and relocated it to an unknown location. Later, a large convoy of the Pakistani forces forcefully transported the body to Balochistan, against the wishes of the family.
Karima Baloch’s hometown Tump was also cordoned off by the forces. No one was allowed the enter the area from the outside. Cellular services were also shut down in district Kech.
This flagrant disrespect irked the people of Balochistan. Mohsin Dawar, leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, said in a tweet that: “It is appalling to see how Karima Baloch’s dead body is being treated. It is not difficult to understand how this will deepen the divide and fuel separatism. Is this the strategy to deal with the Baloch insurgency, to sprinkle salt on the wounds of Baloch?”
Baloch Students Organization Azad, the largest students organization that Karima Baloch once chaired, condemned the ‘abduction’ of the activist’s dead body. “State was afraid of Banuk Karima when she was alive, and now when she is no more with us physically but the state is still afraid of this courageous lady. Karima is a revolution and revolution can never be killed either by killing her or by capturing her dead body,” it said in a tweet.
Historian and activist Ammar Ali Jan was also irked on the behaviour of the Pakistani security forces. “#KarimaBaloch’s death should have been opportunity to reflect on why so many Baloch youth are disgruntled with the Pakistani state. Instead, we have only seen more lies & threats. The disgraceful behaviour witnessed today will only deepen our wounds. We refuse to learn from history,” he tweeted.
Pashtun rights activist Afrasiab Khattak compared Karima Baloch’s burial to that of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, saying: “Curfew in Tump, hometown of #KarimaBaloch (a repeat of Akbar Bugti’s burial), reflects colonial mindset of the state. Those who insist on a compromise with terrorists in Afghanistan aren’t ready to respect the dead bodies of Baloch nationalists. NO TO MILITARY SOLUTION OF POLITICAL ISSUE.”
Baloch National Movement, a pro- indepepence political party, condemned the abduction of Karima Baloch’s dead body, saying that it is a gross violation of humans rights and the international law. “Expecting the Pakistani state to respect the Baloch traditions is futile,” it said.
BNM said in a media statement that barring the people from paying their final respects to Karima Baloch will only heighten their sense of servitude. She will remain in the hearts of not just the Baloch nation, but all of the subordinated nations of the region, the statement read.
The Women Democratic Front said in a media statement that the Pakistani state used to abduct the living Baloch, but now, they have started abducting the dead bodies of Baloch activists.
The Front said that Karima’s dead body was disrespected. The enemy used a well-planned strategy to abduct the dead body. The WDF paid homage to activist Karima Baloch.
The Balochistan National Party also condemned the incident, saying that this act by the rulers of the state will only agitate the Baloch people. It said that the state is employing the tactics it used to suppress the uprising over Karima, Baloch’s death.
The Baloch Solidarity Committee condemned the incident, announcing that it will organize protests throughout Balochistan against the abduction of Karima Baloch’s dead body.