QUETTA: On the birth anniversary of Banok Karima and the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Baloch Students Organization (BSO Azad) honored her extraordinary courage, visionary leadership and enduring legacy of resistance, highlighting the remarkable role of Baloch women in the national struggle.
Banok Karima began her political journey at a time when Baloch women largely remained on the sidelines of politics, suffering in silence rather than raising their voices. She became one of the first women to join student politics on the platform of BSO Azad, emerging as a prominent political voice and paving the way for women to actively participate in the national struggle.
Her activism took place during an era of severe state oppression, when enforced disappearances, “kill and dump” policies and crackdowns on political leaders were at their peak. Many cadres of BSO Azad were victims of these brutal policies. Despite this, Karima stood firm against the perpetrators, organizing protests across Balochistan, mobilizing the masses, and educating students about their rights and responsibilities. Over time, she became a leading figure in the Baloch struggle for liberation.
She held key positions within BSO Azad, serving on the Central Committee and later the Central Cabinet. After witnessing the enforced disappearance of her fellow political workers and enduring harsh state crackdowns, she was appointed organizer of BSO Azad in 2011, a recognition of her leadership capabilities.
Karima remained steadfast at the forefront of her organization. Following the enforced disappearance of former chairman Zahid Baloch, she led the organization as Vice Chairperson and was elected Central Chairperson of BSO Azad in 2015 during a central council session. Even while political workers focused primarily on survival, she continued to guide the organization until her forced asylum in Canada in 2015. She completed her journey in student politics under the platform of BSO Azad after its 21st council session in 2018.
However, her struggle did not end there. She joined the Baloch National Movement (BNM), where she used her experience and leadership to revitalize and strengthen the platform. Her dedication made her a target of oppressive state measures. On 20 December 2020, she was kidnapped in Toronto, Canada, and her body was later found in a lake on 21 December 2020.
Despite the tragedy, Karima had already earned the title of “Lumma” (Mother) from her nation. Her spirit continues to inspire, symbolizing the enduring slogan of resistance. On her birth anniversary and International Women’s Day, BSO Azad remembers Banok Karima as a strong leader and an enduring figure in the Baloch national struggle, whose courage and dedication paved the way for generations of Baloch women and activists committed to justice, freedom, and equality.
