Karima Mehrab, a refugee from the Balochistan region of western Pakistan, also known as Karima Baloch, disappeared on Sunday in the seaside area of Toronto. Police said her body was found Monday.
Mehrab was a prominent organizing student who campaigned for the separation of Balochistan from Pakistan and later fled to Canada amid threats. She was named one of the 100 inspired and influential women of the BBC in 2016.
Toronto police have provided some details about her death. Detective Mike Butt said by telephone: “It was considered a non-criminal incident.”
Amnesty International South Asia posted on Twitter that her death was shocking and should be “effectively investigated,” while the Balochistan Human Rights Council called on the Canadian government to look into the matter.
Earlier this year, Sajid Hussain, a Baluchistan journalist and activist living in exile in Sweden, was found drowned there, according to media reports.