A high-profile robbery in Barcelona has left Pakistani lawmaker Abdul Qadir Gilani without his prized gold-plated watch, reportedly worth over Rs18.4 million at current market value. The incident occurred during Gilani’s family trip to Spain, marking one of the more costly street thefts involving a Pakistani public figure abroad in recent memory.
According to Gilani, the theft unfolded when he had the watch in his hand. “I bought it 13 years ago, back when gold was cheaper; now it is three times higher,” he said. His host in Barcelona also fell victim to a similar snatching incident during the visit, highlighting the city’s recent troubles with street crime targeting tourists and affluent visitors.
Despite the significant loss, the lawmaker remained composed. “As long as there is life, there is the world; such things come and go,” he remarked, downplaying the personal impact of the robbery.
The stolen watch, acquired more than a decade ago, has appreciated sharply in value due to soaring global gold prices. With gold now trading at record highs, the watch’s present worth reflects not only its craftsmanship and materials but also the steep appreciation in precious metal markets over the years.
Abdul Qadir Gilani is a member of the National Assembly representing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and hails from the influential Gilani family of Multan. The family is a political powerhouse in Pakistan, with multiple members holding national and provincial positions. His brothers, Ali Musa Gilani and Qasim Gilani, are also sitting MNAs, while another brother, Ali Haider Gilani, serves as an MPA in the Punjab Assembly.
The Gilani family is also connected to one of Pakistan’s most prominent political figures, their father, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, who served as the country’s prime minister and currently holds the position of Senate Chairman. In a unique twist, three of the brothers , Ali Musa, Qasim, and Ali Haider, share the same birthday, April 10, 1986, with Ali Musa and Qasim being twins.
The family has faced political scrutiny in the past. In August 2024, unverified allegations emerged that Yusuf Raza Gilani, along with Abdul Qadir, Ali Qasim, and their sister Fiza Batool Gilani, had traveled to London using public funds. However, Ali Qasim firmly denied the claims, stating the trip was entirely private and financed by the family, without any burden on taxpayers.
This latest incident in Barcelona adds a new chapter to the Gilani family’s public profile, a reminder that high-profile individuals, regardless of their political stature, remain vulnerable to street crime abroad. It also underscores the rising appeal of luxury items, especially gold-based timepieces, as targets for theft in global tourist hubs.
