Karima Baloch’s dead body has been forcibly removed from Karachi by Pakistani authorities. The family has also not been allowed to perform the deceased leader’s last rites in Karachi.
According to details, a large convoy of Pakistani security forces has escorted the dead body of Baloch leader Karima Baloch out of Karachi. Her family and dead body were taken under custody by authorities at Karachi airport.
Karima Baloch’s body was flown from Canada to Karachi on Sunday. After funeral in Karachi, the dead body was to be taken to her ancestral town Tump, Balochistan for burial.
Yesterday, Baloch Solidarity Committee had announced that Karima Baloch’s funeral will be performed in Lyari, Karachi. A large number of people had gathered at Gul Mohammad Lane in Lyari this morning. A large contingent of police and rangers was also deployed in Lyari. However, the family was not allowed to take Karima Baloch’s dead body to Lyari for last rites.
Karima Baloch’s brother Sameer Mehrab has tweeted that the dead body is being forcefully escorted to Turbat against the family’s will. He said: “this is what hijacking of body looks like.
He later tweeted that the body has been taken towards Balochistan. A video shared by him shows a large convoy of Pakistani security forces escorting the ambulance carrying the dead body.
Earlier the authorities had also shut the mobile services in whole of Kech district. Local journalists have told TBP that the step is believed to be taken to stop large gatherings of Baloch people to “welcome” Karima Baloch’s dead body.
Karima Baloch was a renowned Baloch leader and is considered the pioneer of women activism in Balochistan. She broke the taboos and took to street activism in an otherwise traditionalist society. In 2016, the leading British broadcasting corporation, BBC chose Karima as one of the world’s 100 most “inspirational and influential” women.
Karima Baloch’s dead body was found from Toronto, Canada on 21st December. Her family and Baloch political factions claim that she has been murdered, but the officials in the Toronto police department have termed her death as “non-criminal.”
Karima Baloch’s family members and political parties of Balochistan have rejected Toronto police’s initial report and have called for further investigation into the mysterious death.