Canadian police determined that the death of a Pakistani human rights activist, which had roused international concern and calls for a full investigation, was not suspicious.
Karima Mehrab, also known as Karima Baloch, a pro-independence campaigner who fled to Canada in 2015, was found dead on Monday, a day after she went missing in downtown Toronto.
“The circumstances have been investigated and officers have determined this to be a non-criminal death and no foul play is suspected,” Toronto Police tweeted.
In the statement, police described “heightened community and media interest” and said the family of the 37-year-old activist had been told about the outcome of the investigation.
The circumstances have been investigated and officers have determined this to be a non-criminal death and no foul play is suspected.
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) December 23, 2020
We have updated the family.
Mehrab was a defender of human rights in Pakistan and campaigned for autonomy for Balochistan, a south-western province beset by sectarian violence.
Her disappearance near Lake Ontario was reported by Toronto police on Sunday. Her body was found on Monday morning.
Pakistani rights activists called for a full investigation into the death. Some suggested that Mehrab had been assassinated, pointing to the death in May of a journalist from Balochistan who was living in Sweden.