Furore over handling of slain Baloch activist’s body

ISLAMABAD: A prominent Baloch activist, Lateef Johar Baloch, on Sunday claimed that human rights activist Karima Baloch’s body was being “forcefully escorted” in Pakistan without the consent of her family members.

The activist alleged that dozens of military vehicles were “illegally” taking Karima’s body to an “unknown destination”. He also claimed that Pakistani authorities have detained Karima’s family as well.

While slamming the administration in Canada - Karima was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Toronto in December - Johar asked for the handover of the slain activist’s body to her family.

“Pakistani authorities took Karima Baloch’s body along with her family from Karachi airport to an unknown location. We don’t know where they are taking them,” Johar tweeted.

“Pakistani authorities have refused the handover of Karima Baloch’s body to her family. This is wrong, unacceptable and against humanity. Why is Pakistan afraid of a body? Pakistani authorities must spare Karima Baloch’s family from more agony and hand over the body right away,” he posted and tagged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

After Karima, a prominent Baloch voice, was found dead a day after she had gone missing in Toronto, the episode sparked protests across Europe and North America.

Pakistan to launch 5G network in 2022-23 Pakistan is planning to roll out the most advanced 5G internet in 2022-23, which will accelerate the download speed 10 times to one gigabit per second and widen economic activities in the country.

Pakistan is developing a comprehensive road map for 5G technology readiness in the country. It is aimed at auctioning “spectrum for… 5G services in the fiscal year 2023,” the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said in its annual report 2020.

The Covid-19 pandemic helped the digital economy widened multifold. The crisis has prompted Pakistan’s regulators and stakeholders to improve digital infrastructure.

IT and telecom minister Aminul Haque said the government had planned to launch 5G technology by December 2022, but experts are still sceptical, believing the country will take a much longer time, five to seven years, to roll out the next-generation technology.

Haque made a test video call using 5G to China and said it was a wonderful experience, according to news reports.