Air and ground searches scouring parks and rural areas for missing woman

Tariq Bajwa wants to welcome his wife of 28 years back home safely.

Nuzhat Tabassum, 53, was last seen in the Rosewood neighbourhood early in the morning Sunday, police said. This week’s heat warnings from Environment Canada add to the potential risk, police said.

(Saskatoon Police Service/Submitted)

Bajwa said Tabaussum left their home around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday and hasn’t been seen since. Bajwa said her departure was captured on their cameras.

Tabaussum, he said, has been seeking help for her mental health for several months.

She’s been having a lot of trouble sleeping over the past several weeks, he said, and recently spent two weeks receiving treatment at The Irene & Leslie Dubé Centre for Mental Health in Saskatoon. Tabaussum left the centre just a week before she went missing, he said.

On Saturday evening, Bajwa said their son took his wife to Royal University Hospital to get her help for her sleep issue. They weren’t able to get help, and returned home around 3 a.m.

When they returned home, Bajwa said Tabaussum asked him to leave the room while she tried to fall asleep. Their son stayed in the room with her.

“I fell asleep, my son fell asleep and she escaped,” Bajwa said. “Since then, we are struggling to find her.”

Bajwa said he woke up Sunday morning around 7 a.m. to his younger son asking him where his mother was.

They’ve spent the past several days searching for her on foot, on a bike and in the car, trying to find some trace of Tabaussum.

“I am quite worried … and now this is extreme for me. She is not with me and I hope she is okay somewhere.”

Bajwa said his wife is a very caring person who always takes care of their family.

“She was very outgoing … before this depression kicked in,” Bajwa said. “She worried too much for everybody else but herself.”

Bajwa said there has been no success in the search efforts, but he’s thankful for the help police, family members, and others in the community have been able to give them.

“This is just unimaginable,” Bajwa said.

He’s asking people in Rosewood to continue to search their backyards for anyone matching his wife’s description.

When she went missing, police said Tabassum was believed to be wearing dark-coloured pants, a maroon shirt and light-coloured shoes.

Police released a new photo of Tabassum on Wednesday, but said she was not wearing the pictured purple jacket when she went missing, and may not be wearing a head scarf.

Police said air and ground searches have been conducted, with the assistance of Saskatoon Search and Rescue, covering urban and rural areas, as well as parks.

Anyone with information on Tabassum’s whereabouts was asked to contact the Saskatoon Police Service or Crime Stoppers.