Toronto Police Say They Do Not Suspect Foul Play In Karima Mehrab’s Death!

Karima Mehrab went missing on December 20, 2020. Her body was found the next day. Mehrab was last seen near Bay Street and Queen’s Quay at around 3 p.m. on Sunday. Toronto police say they do not suspect foul play. “It is currently being investigated as a non-criminal death and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances,” Caroline de Kloet of Toronto police told CityNews Toronto.

TORONTO - Prominent Pakistani activist Karima Mehrab, who fled her country and sought refugee status in Canada, has been found dead after being reported missing on Sunday. Her body was found near the Harbourfront Monday morning.

Mehrab, who was also known by her activist name of Karima Baloch, was last seen near Bay Street and Queen’s Quay at around 3 p.m. on Sunday. Toronto police say they do not suspect foul play.

“It is currently being investigated as a non-criminal death and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances,” Caroline de Kloet of Toronto police told CityNews Toronto.

The 37-year-old was well known in the Baloch separatist movement, which calls for the independence of Pakistan’s southwestern province Balochistan. Mehrab fled to Canada in 2015, seeking refugee status, reported Citynews.

Lateef Johar, who goes by Lateef Johar Baloch, was a friend of Mehrab. He met her in 2009 at the University of Toronto and just saw her last Thursday when they met up at Robarts Library to study.

“She was really good. She was only a little concerned about her test … She had a test, yesterday, on Monday, in economics.” Johar said in a phone call to CityNews.

Johar, who arrived in Canada from Pakistan just weeks before Mehrab, said her death is unbelievable.

“We cannot believe it. We cannot accept it, personally, that it was an accident or suicide because we had lots of threats. She had lots of threats.”

According to Johar, Mehrab’s death isn’t the only one in her family – her uncle was abducted in 2016. His body found years later.

Johar also believes the death of Mehrab may be connected to the death of a Sajid Hussain, a Pakistani reporter who went missing in Sweden earlier this year. Hussain was writing about alleged human rights violations at the hands of the Pakistani military when he disappeared in March. His body was found in a river months later and police said his death was not suspicious.

“I know, he was my friend. He used to be a famous journalist in Pakistan. His house was raided … and the similar things we can see here, same pattern … but I cannot exactly say who did it.”

While Toronto police believe there is no reason to suspect any foul play, many international organizations and a Canadian Member of Parliament are calling for an investigation into her death.

Michael Chong, MP for Wellington-Halton Hills and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, says Mehrab was the second Pakistani dissident found dead this year.

“Very disturbing if political assassinations are taking place on Canadian soil.” Chong tweeted.

Amnesty International for South Asia is also calling for an investigation.

“The perpetrators must be brought to justice without recourse to the death penalty.” tweeted Amnesty Asia.

The Human Rights Council of Balochistan also calling for a government investigation into her death.

“She defeated patriarchy & took over a nationalist struggle in midst of ruthless state suppression. She remains a beacon of human rights and human dignity. We call upon Canadian government to investigate her death and bring forward the conclusions,” The council tweeted this morning.

Courtesy Citynews Toronto