Demonstrations were held in Germany and France on Monday against the alleged murder of activist Karima Baloch in Canada. The participants demanded that the Canadian authorities conduct a thorough investigation on her death and bring the culprits to justice.
The Baloch National Movement organized a demonstration in front of the Canadian embassy in Berlin over the alleged murder of activist Karima Baloch. Scores of participants gathered on the streets, carrying placards and portraits of the deceased activists. They also held a candlelight vigil in her memory.
The demonstrators also distributed pamphlets among the general public which detailed the life and work of Karima Baloch. They demanded that the Canadian authorities conduct a comprehensive enquiry on her death, and also submitted a memorandum in the Canadian embassy in this regard.
Asghar Baloch, General Secretary of the German zone of the BNM, addressed the gathering. He said that by conducting this demonstration, the Baloch National Movement intends to communicate a message to the Canadian authorities that it repudiates the preliminary investigation report of the Toronto Police on Karima Baloch’s death and demands a meticulous investigation in this regard. The police had ruled her death as “non-criminal” in the report.
He said that Karima Baloch was not only a great leader, but also a courageous and brave woman. She was a hero, a symbol of courage, not for the Baloch nation, but other nations as well.
Asghar Baloch said that feminism is a hallmark of Baloch politics. Today, women in Balochistan are fervently participating in politics, activism and various social movements. The significant female presence in the VBMP protest camp in Quetta is the manifestation of the fact that there is no discrimination against women in Balochistan.
He said that the Baloch society is mired in “enslavement”, and in this society, Karima Baloch was a symbol of courage for the women. We condemn her “killing” and demand the Canadian authorities to investigate her death as a criminal act. We believe that the Pakistani intelligence agencies are behind the act. And if this crime is not strictly investigated, this grim fate might befall the Baloch refugees in other countries as well, he said.
A demonstration was also held in the French capital Paris over the alleged murder of Karima Baloch. The Baloch, Pashtun and Hazara community in Paris gathered in front of the Canadian embassy and demanded a comprehensive inquiry on her death.
They resented that instead of putting an end to the target killings of political workers in Balochistan, the world is labeling their death as an accident. The “murderers” of Karima Baloch must be brought to justice, and the Baloch political activists around the globe must be protected.