September 23, 2023
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
RE: BHRC-Canada Concerned about Canadian Government’s Handling of Karima Baloch’s Death
The Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada (BHRC-Canada) expresses deep concern regarding the Canadian Government’s perceived inconsistencies in its response to the mysterious death of Balochistan rights activist and protected individual, Ms. Karima Baloch, in December 2020, in Toronto. On December 22, 2020, Ms. Karima Baloch’s lifeless body was discovered by the Toronto Police near Lake Ontario on Toronto Island.
Karima Baloch’s untimely death, shrouded in suspicion, was swiftly and definitively concluded by the Toronto Police within forty-eight hours of the discovery, with an announcement that “no foul play was suspected.” It is worth noting that both the government of Canada and the Toronto Police were well-informed about the grave death threats that Ms. Baloch had received from the ISI, yet they maintained silence on this matter.
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.
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.
PM Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party Government must provide a transparent and just response regarding the quest for justice in the case of Ms. Karima Baloch. She dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and freedom of Balochistan from tyranny and Pakistani military occupation. Unfortunately, our past correspondence and appeals over the past two years appear to have gone unnoticed, possibly due to electoral considerations.
It is our firm belief that the Canadian Government must treat all individuals equally, without regard to race, creed, or political contributions.
Thanking you,
Sincerely,
Dr. Zaffar Jawaid,
President, Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada
1611-20 Graydon Hall Drive
Toronto, Ontario M3A 2Z9
Canada
Baluch Sarmachar 