ISLAMABAD: Canadian authorities have officially declared activist KarimaMehrab Baloch’s death as ‘non-criminal’ in nature.

In response to a request of the Pakistan High Commission seekinginformation on the cause of death, the Toronto Police Service said herdisappearance had been reported on December 20, 2020 by a family member.“An exhaustive search was commenced by officers which sadly resulted in thelocation of the deceased on December 21, 2020,” it explained.

The letter said the officer in charge reported the details to the familyshortly thereafter. “After a thorough investigation, officers determinedthat this was a non-criminal death and that no foul play was suspected.”The cause of death assessment is expected to put to rest conspiracytheories regarding the activist’s death being the result of some kind offoul play.

Copies of the medical certificate of death and a statement of death, alongwith the flight schedule of the body’s arrival in Pakistan on Sunday, werealso attached by the Canadian authorities. Karima Baloch had been living inexile in Canada for about five years.