QUETTA: A young woman remains missing more than two and a half months after she allegedly escaped from a government-run shelter (Darul Aman) in Quetta, raising serious questions about security protocols and the efficacy of the subsequent police search.
The case involves Rukhsar Dukhtar Nazim, a resident of Qila Saifullah. Her ordeal began when she reportedly left her home, after which her husband allegedly left her at the Civil Hospital Quetta. She was then transferred to the Women’s Police Station before being moved, on the orders of a Judicial Magistrate on October 21, 2025, to the Darul Aman Quetta for shelter and protection.
However, just three days later, on October 24, Rukhsar vanished. Officials at the shelter state that she escaped by climbing a tree located behind the facility and jumping over the boundary wall. The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 PM, during a time when other residents were reportedly outside for a sewing lesson. An First Information Report (FIR) was promptly registered at the Barori Police Station regarding the escape.
Despite the filing of the case and claims by officials that action has been taken against staff for negligence, the recovery efforts have proven fruitless. Balochistan government officials have stated that they are in contact with the woman’s family and other relevant parties, but no concrete information about her whereabouts has surfaced in the ensuing ten weeks.
A prevailing suspicion among investigators, as noted in the report, is that Rukhsar may have orchestrated her escape to reunite with her husband. The police are pursuing this line of inquiry while continuing their search. The prolonged disappearance underscores concerns about the safety and oversight within protective institutions and the challenges in tracing vulnerable individuals once they leave state custody.
