Pakistani officials are scrambling to locate a 20-year-old boxer who vanished from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, an episode that has reignited concerns about athlete defections abroad. Qudratullah, who competed in the men's 60kg category, failed to board the return flight with the national contingent, prompting a high-level investigation by government agencies. Main Developments According to a contingent member who spoke to Dawn on condition of anonymity, all athletes were present at a single location until around 2:00am in Glasgow, the day before the team's scheduled departure. Organizers had provided separate rooms for each athlete, and Qudratullah was seen going to his room that night. Passports and air tickets for every contingent member, including Qudratullah, were held by the head of the contingent. Despite these precautions, the boxer disappeared, leaving officials to describe the incident as "extremely unfortunate" and damaging to Pakistan's image. Read also: 3 key takeaways from Pakistan's 20-man World Cup squad Background Qudratullah, who is affiliated with the Pakistan Army, lost his bout to Northern Ireland's Jude Gallagher during the Games. Pakistan's overall performance in Glasgow yielded just one medal—a bronze won by boxer Fatima Zahra in the women's 60kg category. This is not the first time Pakistani athletes have gone missing abroad. During the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, two boxers failed to return with the national contingent. More recently, in 2024, boxer Zohaib Rasheed disappeared in Italy while participating in an Olympic qualifying event. Why It Matters The disappearance raises questions about the effectiveness of supervision measures for athletes traveling abroad, despite protocols like holding passports centrally. British authorities issued six-month visas to all contingent members, meaning the case may not be treated as urgent until the visa validity approaches expiry, potentially complicating efforts to locate Qudratullah. For Pakistani sports administration, this incident risks tarnishing the country's reputation and could lead to stricter travel restrictions for future delegations. The Pakistan Boxing Federation has not commented, with officials remaining unreachable despite repeated attempts. What's Next Government agencies are actively working to determine Qudratullah's whereabouts, though officials have noted that if he intends to apply for asylum, it may not be possible under the current circumstances. The six-month visa window suggests that British authorities may not prioritize the case until closer to its expiry, leaving the timeline uncertain.