Pakistani activist death in Canada ‘not suspicious’

Death of pro-independence campaigner from troubled Balochistan raised concerns

Pakistani human rights activist Karima Mehrab, also known as Karima Baloch. From instagram of @karimabaloch
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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.

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.