PPP MNA Abdul Qadir Gilani was robbed of an expensive gold-plated watch valued at more than Rs18.4 million while visiting Barcelona. The theft occurred during a family trip, with Gilani recalling that he had purchased the timepiece 13 years ago when gold prices were much lower.
“I bought it 13 years ago, back when gold was cheaper; now it is three times higher,” Gilani explained. He also noted that his host in Barcelona was robbed in the same incident. Despite the loss, Gilani maintained a philosophical perspective, saying, “As long as there is life, there is the world; such things come and go.”
The stolen watch, once a valuable possession, has now become one of the most significant thefts involving a Pakistani public figure abroad in recent memory. Gilani’s family is part of a prominent political dynasty in Multan, with several members serving in various political roles, including his brothers, Ali Musa Gilani and Qasim Gilani, both members of the National Assembly.
The Gilani family, led by their father, former Prime Minister and current Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, has faced public scrutiny before. In August 2024, unsubstantiated allegations emerged that some members of the family, including Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his children, had traveled to London using public funds. However, PPP lawmaker Ali Qasim Gilani clarified that the trip was entirely private, funded by the family, and did not cost the Pakistani taxpayers any money.
