Karima Baloch’s death remains a mystery

Two years after international activist Karima Baloch’s death, questions surrounding what happened to her remain.

by Diary Marif

Two years after Karima Mehrab’s body was pulled from Lake Ontario, her friends and fellow human rights activists are still looking for answers about how she died.

Karima, 37, (known here as Karima Baloch as many immigrants from Balochistan use the last name Baloch) was a prominent student organizer who campaigned for Balochistan’s rights and called for justice for the hundreds of students and activists who go missing every year in Pakistan.

Tribute to Banuk Karima

Following is the English version of the full text of Mir Mohammed Ali Talpur’s speech he had given at the seminar on Banuk Karima 2^nd death anniversary organized by Baloch Yekjehti Committee at Quetta Press Club on 21 December 2022.   

My Respected Fellow Travelers my Salam to you all.

Some people in history and movements come to represent not only the movements they are associated with but leave an enduring and unforgettable legacy behind that encourages others to follow their footsteps to take humanity forward on towards the goals of a dignified life of respect, equality and freedom.

Banuk Karima was such a person because she not only was a political and a social activist she was the pioneer for women’s participation in politics of resistance in Balochistan where women though held in respect and dignity were hesitant to participate in politics; it was Banuk Karima who blazed the trail and opened up the closed paths for women participation in politics of resistance and it is for this reason that Baloch women and men feel that her death anniversary on 21^st December is the most appropriate date to celebrate and observe “Baloch Women’s Day” as a mark of respect for her work and dedication.

بانک کریمہ کو خراج تحسین

Balochistan Remembers her Daughter Karima Baloch on her 2nd Death Anniversary

On the occasion of the second death anniversary of Banuk Karima Baloch, two seminars were organized by Baloch Yekjethi Committee, one at the Quetta Press Club and the second at Gwadar Press Club. A large number of women and the general public participated in these events.

Baloch intellectual Ustad Talpur, Khurram Ali, Shahzeb Advocate, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Zeen Gul, Taj Baloch, AR Dad, Dr. Manzoor Baloch, Shari Baloch, and Khan Zaman Kakar were the speakers at the seminar in Quetta. The speakers discussed the political struggle of Banuk Karima, her sacrifices, and martyrdom. They paid rich tribute to her ultimate sacrifice for her motherland.

Sammi Deen Baloch of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, Vice President of JUI Balochistan Khalid Waleed Safi, former Chairman of BSO Saeed Faiz Advocate, and Abdul Wahab Baloch of Baloch Yekjethi Committee were the speakers at the Gwadar seminar.

بابا مری ایک انقلابی صوفی – کریمہ بلوچ

چند سال پہلے جب میری ملاقات بابا مری کے ساتھ نہیں ہوئی تھی میں نے انکے جلاوطنی کے زمانے کے ایک دوست سے انکے متعلق پوچھا کہ بابا کیسے مزاج کے انسان ہیں؟ انہوں نے جواب میں صرف اتنا کہا کہ آپ نے کبھی گوتم بدھ کے بارے میں سنا ہے؟ بس انہیں دیکھ کر گوتم بدھ کا گمان ہوتا ہے، جلاوطنی میں جب ہم ساتھ تھے تو وہ خود بیلچہ لے کر اپنے رہائش گاہ کی چھت پر جمی برف ہٹاتے تھے. وہ غرور سے نا واقف انسان ہیں۔

بابا مری ایک انقلابی صوفی – کریمہ بلوچ

چند سال پہلے جب میری ملاقات بابا مری کے ساتھ نہیں ہوئی تھی میں نے انکے جلاوطنی کے زمانے کے ایک دوست سے انکے متعلق پوچھا کہ بابا کیسے مزاج کے انسان ہیں؟ انہوں نے جواب میں صرف اتنا کہا کہ آپ نے کبھی گوتم بدھ کے بارے میں سنا ہے؟ بس انہیں دیکھ کر گوتم بدھ کا گمان ہوتا ہے، جلاوطنی میں جب ہم ساتھ تھے تو وہ خود بیلچہ لے کر اپنے رہائش گاہ کی چھت پر جمی برف ہٹاتے تھے. وہ غرور سے نا واقف انسان ہیں۔

عہدے اور رکنیت سے فارغ ہورہی ہوں لیکن بی ایس او میری پہچان رہیگی – کریمہ بلوچ

بلوچ اسٹوڈنٹس آرگنائزیشن آزاد کی اکیسواں قومی کونسل سیشن بنام مرکزی سیکریٹری جنرل عزت بلوچ، انفارمیشن سیکریٹری لکمیر بلوچ اور اسیران آزادی زیر صدرات مرکزی سینئر وائس چیئرمین کمال بلوچ جاری

آج اکیسواں قومی کونسل سیشن کے پہلے روز چیئرمین کا افتتاحی خطاب، تنظیمی رپورٹ اور آئین سازی کے ایجنڈے زیر بحث رہے۔ اکیسواں قومی کونسل سیشن کا آغاز شہدائے بلوچستان کی یاد میں خاموشی اور قومی ترانہ ’’ماہ چکیں بلوچانی‘‘ سے کیا گیا۔

Justin Trudeau should play role to stop Baloch massacre : Karima Baloch

Toronto/London: Chairperson of largest student organisation of Balochistan BSO-Azad, Karima Baloch has presented a memorandum to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking him to play his role in stopping Baloch massacre at the hands of Pakistani Army.

Baloch Students Organization-Azad (BSO-A) central spokesperson issued a press release to the media, and said that BSO-Azad Chairperson Karima Baloch presented a memorandum to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the continuation of the military operations, killing and abduction of the common people by the state forces in Balochistan.

Canada: Karima Baloch’s Press Breifing on Human Rights Voilation in Balochistan and Zahid’s non-recovery

Three years after his abduction, Zahid Baloch is still missing.

Dear members of the press,

Thank you for joining us today in this briefing on Balochistan and human rights. My name is Karima Mehrab and I am the Chairperson of Baloch Students Organization-Azad (BSO-A). Formed in 1967, the BSO has campaigned for education, development of Balochi as mother language and medium of instruction, and the political rights of the Baloch people in the Pakistan-occupied Balochistan.

BNM Protest in Toronto Demands Immediate Release of Wahid Baloch

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International Bodies Must Intervene to Stop Pak Army Atrocities in Balochistan

Toronto, July 31, 2016 – Baloch National Movement (BNM) called for a protest in Toronto today against the enforced disappearance of Wahid Baloch by the Pakistani security agencies on July 26, 2016 when he was returning to Karachi. His vehicle was stopped at the Toll Plaza entry point and he was whisked away at gunpoint by masked ISI personnel. Mr. Baloch is missing since then.

The local police station has refused to file a report on his illegal abduction without giving any reason as to why the legal process was being obstructed.

Uncle of Karima Baloch abducted by security forces in Balochistan

BALOCHISTAN: Master Noor Ahmad s/o Haji Khan Mohammad r/o Pullabad, Tump, District Kech, Makran, Balochistan was abducted by security forces at around 10:30 pm Pakistan time on July 28, 2016.

He was accompanied by almost a dozen of people in the vehicle when they reached at Ghinna check post, around 40 Km away from Turbat city while going back home from Turbat, they were stopped by security forces and asked to provide their NICs (National Identity Cards). He was dragged out and taken after the confirmation of his identity.