Baloch Yakzehti Committee releases documentary to honor Karima Baloch’s legacy

On the fourth death anniversary of human rights activist Karima Baloch, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) released a documentary titled “Brave Baloch Women” on its official YouTube channel.

According to a post by BYC on . It serves as a tribute to their resilience, courage and unwavering commitment to justice and equality.

“Honoring the legacy of Karima Baloch and other iconic figures, the brave Baloch women highlight their enduring contributions and the strength they bring to contemporary struggles for rights and recognition,” BYC’s post said. The committee also urged people to watch the documentaries available on its YouTube channel.

Karima Baloch, who was the first female president of the Baloch Students Organization, fled Pakistan in 2015 and took refuge in Canada after facing life threats for speaking out against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings by the Pakistani military.

On December 22, 2020, his/her body was found drowned off the coast of Toronto under suspicious circumstances. his/her family, as well as several politicians and activists, including the Baloch Yakjehati Committee (BYC), have claimed that he/she was murdered by the Pakistani state. Despite Canadian authorities describing his/her death as “non-criminal”, his/her death has sparked significant concerns and calls for further investigation.

According to reports, Karima was last seen alive on December 20, 2020, and her body was found drowned off the Toronto coast on December 22, 2020. Initially, the Toronto Police Service reported that her body had been found near Lake Ontario, but provided no further details.

However, there was doubt about the circumstances of his/her death, as he/she had received threats before his/her death. Protests took place in both Balochistan and Canada demanding a thorough investigation into Baloch’s death. Various ethnic groups, including the Baloch, Pashtun and Sindhi minorities, issued statements in support demanding justice. Despite these concerns, Canadian authorities concluded that there was no evidence of foul play and treated the death as “non-criminal”.

The situation surrounding Baloch’s death caused concern, particularly in the context of his/her activism, the threats he/she received, and his/her vocal criticism of the Pakistani government.