Canadian senator robbed in Islamabad

E-Paper | March 10, 2026

Canadian Senator Salma Attaullah Jan was robbed of cash, a black pearl necklace and her ID cards in Islamabad's F6 area on Tuesday night.

The senator was reportedly approached by two men on a motorcycle as she was getting into her car near F6 Markaz. The men grabbed her handbag and fled, prompting Jan to register a First Investigation Report (FIR).

Jan reported she was carrying $4,200, Rs62,000, a pearl necklace, a few credit cards and her Canadian Senate ID.

Appointed to the Canadian senate in 2010 during Stephen Harper's tenure, Jan, who hails from Mardan, describes herself as an "activist, artist and realtor".

She belongs to a political family.

Her father, Saranjam Khan was a central figure in PML-N's presence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) until February 2012, when he, along with two other party members, developed differences with the PML-N party leadership and relinquished their posts and basic party memberships.

According to the Islamabad police's crime statistics, figures show incidences of 'general theft' to have decreased from 422 to 355 between 2014 and 2015. However, reports from 2016 show crime to have risen in the capital city.

Expatriates are particular targets for some criminal gangs. In 2015, the Islamabad police's investigative unit had busted a gang of robbers who were notorious for targeting foreign nationals.

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Vallabh Patel

Apr 26, 2017 01:23pm

Can happen to any country. Pakistan is no exception.

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Saurabh

Apr 26, 2017 01:26pm

Where bigger looters get political posts - smaller ones got little to fear

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Apr 26, 2017 01:35pm

though a minor incident, but being a foreigner involved, these incidents certainly dent country's image abroad

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Realist

Apr 26, 2017 01:38pm

Safe city cameras? I hope they are as down and as dumb as Govt

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tariq

Apr 26, 2017 01:42pm

When leader are robber such things happen, not a single institution has clean hands in this country.

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K Be Like PK

Apr 26, 2017 01:45pm

This can happen anywhere. As world economy jobs are few or eaten up by China. This can happen anywhere

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riaz

Apr 26, 2017 01:46pm

Madam do not worry. Since you are high profile person, our Police Department will apprehend the culprits very soon. Where there is a need give results, our LEAs are very competent.

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citizen

Apr 26, 2017 01:48pm

No patriotic pakisthani would have done this..Certainly a conspiracy to malign the image of the nation. The culprits from across the border must be chased and punished severely..

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HABIB

Apr 26, 2017 01:54pm

JIT for Panama case should be involved to investigate this. atleast they should have something to investigate.

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Ahmed bin Babar

Apr 26, 2017 01:58pm

A test case for the interior minister...

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ABE

Apr 26, 2017 02:02pm

Disgraceful! This had to happen in her erstwhile motherland, to reaffirm her family's decision to settle in Canada instead. Do you ever expect her to return to this land again? Not in this century!

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Falcon1

Apr 26, 2017 02:09pm

Nice going Pakistanis. I bet she will be singing the virtues of Pakistan when she returns to Canada.

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Shakeel Ahmed

Apr 26, 2017 02:20pm

It can happen anywhere in the world. It does not have to be news.

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adnan

Apr 26, 2017 02:24pm

@citizen no need to make a mockery of the situation.

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Nahrad Muni

Apr 26, 2017 02:33pm

Welcome back to motherland..!!

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Mahmood

Apr 26, 2017 02:46pm

@Shakeel Ahmed FYI, it does not happen in most civilized nations, in broad day light, and stone's throw away from the seat of power, in a nation's capital in most countries of the world.

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Amer RAo

Apr 26, 2017 02:56pm

Its really sad news, our prayers are with you sister.

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Indi rocks

Apr 26, 2017 03:25pm

@Vallabh Patel we understand.

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Iqbal HADI ZAIDI

Apr 26, 2017 03:42pm

Senator, you should be happy not sad, you should utter thankful words and not grumble to be hones, rather dead honest to you. You just lost your bag and belongings and you were spared and not abducted to tell you the hard truth. Had you been abducted then minimum 7 digits money had been paid by your near and dear ones to get you released. You must be still Muslim and thus offer 2 rakat nafal namaz I very sincerely advise. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com

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M.Saeed

Apr 26, 2017 03:44pm

What is the use of Smart City surveillance cameras if they fail to detect such robberies?

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Syed waqar Ali

Apr 26, 2017 04:18pm

The only way to combat the menace of all crimes including street crimes is strict application of law and justice. The culprits should be tried summarily. Any delay in trial would only result in continuous increase in crimes. The responsibility lies on the government. I can't imagine why the government can not tackle this situation.

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Sajid sajjad abbasi

Apr 26, 2017 04:24pm

Culprits must be arrested and taken to task.

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KING

Apr 26, 2017 04:34pm

what a country !!

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Misty

Apr 26, 2017 04:51pm

@Vallabh Patel Doesn't happen or never happened in Malaysia Singapore Switzerland Japan

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Iftikhar Husain

Apr 26, 2017 05:01pm

We are sorry to read this incident to the senator hope police will catch the culprits very soon.

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zahid

Apr 26, 2017 05:10pm

Probably family feud

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The end is near

Apr 26, 2017 05:13pm

Be thankful to God they didn't hurt you physically. The robbers in Pakistan are very dangerous. Welcome back to Pakistan.

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Logic

Apr 26, 2017 05:13pm

Shame If our political is robbing nation then no surprise what has happened.

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khanm

Apr 26, 2017 05:21pm

We are robbed day in and day out on a gun point in broad daylight. in almost every major cities, the vast majority of those crimes are not even reported and to top it off, our police refuses to cut a FIR... Although the FIR means nothing but at least one can draw the statistic on street crimes..

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M.Saeed

Apr 26, 2017 05:46pm

@Vallabh Patel: But, it has never happened before in the known history of Islamabad in its safest and most protected F-6 Super Market.

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Sheraz ali

Apr 26, 2017 05:48pm

Great that MQM is not involved in it... else all will start blaming MQM

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Nasser

Apr 26, 2017 06:06pm

The fault lies with the "victim" (the criminal is already the alleged criminal). Carrying that sort of cash, and by yourself, in any country is an invitation for crime. I live in the UK and visit Pakistan regularly. I do not carry large amounts of cash generally. When I have to, I have someone to accompany me and I keep aware of my surroundings and ensure I am not being followed. One needs to take precaution to minimise the incidence of crime.

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muhammad dar

Apr 26, 2017 06:49pm

@HABIB this is the best comment.

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Memon

Apr 26, 2017 06:50pm

@Mahmood Read This: http://abc7chicago.com/news/woman-mugged-in-broad-daylight-on-mayors-street/1483760/

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fawad

Apr 26, 2017 07:17pm

@Falcon1 as if one incident defines the whole country. I lost more money than her to a thief in London tube station when I was visiting that country.. Should we be painting all of England with the same brush now?

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Mahmood

Apr 26, 2017 07:26pm

@fawad - If I was carrying evern $500 in a wallet, I will not risk traveling on London underground or any public transport anywhere. For $10-20 I can easily afford comfort, security and peace of mind. Next time, leave the diamonds, gold bars and that hefty wad of cash at home. Or hire Uber. After all, what good is the money if you don't use it at the right occassion??

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pakistani

Apr 26, 2017 07:27pm

Wait for 48 hours, U will get result...

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Saleem

Apr 26, 2017 07:27pm

A matter of shame.

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Falcon1

Apr 26, 2017 07:30pm

@fawad - If I was a 'millionaire' like yourself and had that much cash on me, I will ride a chauffer-driven limo or private car or even a Taxi cab. Not riding congested sweaty Tube carrying that kind of cash to save measly 10- 20 pounds. Common sense, is not so common, after all.

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Asad Khan

Apr 26, 2017 08:08pm

Surprised??? No, welcome to Pakistan. Sad very sad.

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Masood Mukhtar

Apr 26, 2017 08:12pm

Why extra security was not provided to a senator ? does she informed Govt of Pakistan about her visit, personal/official?

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Alba

Apr 26, 2017 08:27pm

Not so good for Pakistan's expectations of more foreign investment.

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Apr 26, 2017 08:42pm

Never heard of these stories coming out from Islamabad before.

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Adnan A.

Apr 26, 2017 08:48pm

@Vallabh Patel I agree and somebody knew beforehand she had a lot of cash on hand.

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javed

Apr 26, 2017 09:21pm

Petty crime is a problem in all large cities. The only way to deal with it is by switching from passive policing to active policing. That is the only way criminals will not vanish into thin air.

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Sagar

Apr 26, 2017 09:38pm

@Mahmood - Do you know that you cannot go to China now?

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hopeful

Apr 26, 2017 11:07pm

@citizen Sure

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DR.zaid ahmad al-muhaisen

Apr 27, 2017 07:46am

sad to hear such news it gives bad image about pakistan

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Nazzer

Apr 27, 2017 08:16am

Why did she has to go there?. Even their own citizen staying in abroad avoiding to visiting their homeland.

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CHAUDHURY

Apr 27, 2017 08:45am

You have this sort of situation and you are thinking of what happened in Indian Metro!

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ROCKY

Apr 27, 2017 08:56am

@a what a negligence mindset!

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Quizzicle

Apr 27, 2017 09:07am

And this after the FIA episode at Islamabad airport...where is Ch. Nisar?

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MAK

Apr 27, 2017 09:49am

This lady should have known better , there are many extremists / black sheep humanoids among us tarnishing our image further

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abdullah Umar

Apr 27, 2017 10:05am

Irony is that bag has been recovered within 24 hours with no cash inside. Is this great police work or police is sharing the pie with these robbers?

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doshi h k

Apr 27, 2017 11:30am

Islamabad has overall good law and order. Despite this such incident occurred is questionable. Authority should inquired about motive as it was simply looting or else.

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d.kumar.

Apr 27, 2017 11:31am

She is a senator. Pakistani police should catch the culprit. Station House Officer of the area would be aware of the culprits in the area.

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Tashfeen qayyum

Apr 27, 2017 12:25pm

@Mahmood Rapes happen in New Delhi. What world you are living in. Things happen everywhere.

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Dil Dil Pakistan, Toronto, Canada

Apr 27, 2017 12:52pm

This is a petty crime, compared to what our top leaders and politicians are doing to this country every day.

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sunil

Apr 27, 2017 01:07pm

CPEC Will give all fortune.....

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Mrityunjay Tripathi

Apr 27, 2017 01:35pm

What is important is what attire she was in. If she was in typical Pakistani dress then you cannot blame the robber/s as they couldn't have known that they are committing a second crime of maligning their country's image. If she were in Western attire with Canadian government insignia than the crime is bigger. This also raises another question... Are the looters required to have the sense of nation's pride?

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Raja farhat Abbas

Apr 27, 2017 02:51pm

@sunil ..Sarcastic people like you are beneath contempt!!.

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MUHAMMAD

Apr 27, 2017 05:26pm

Disgusting. As a Pakistani canadian I am appalled and ashamed of this. Our pakistnai govt is least bothered in improving security and law and order.

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pakistani

Apr 27, 2017 05:27pm

Sorry to read this. Sad affairs.

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Ahaq

Apr 27, 2017 06:32pm

Strange this has happened and continues to happen to many Pakistanis particularly women carrying purse, cell phone in hand and or wearing jewelry. It never gets reported until a high profile person is affected.

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NAJJEE

Apr 27, 2017 07:13pm

Thanks to the internally displaced individuals in Islamabad, crime has gone up.

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A person with pride

Apr 27, 2017 08:30pm

It is sad that a person was robbed in day light. But this is getting more coverage because the victim was a Canadian Senator of Pakistani origin. This in my opinion shows more values for foreigner and less for locals. The news should treat equally the local and external citizens.

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Ayub

Apr 28, 2017 03:46am

She is a compassionate person. The treatment meted out to her in the capital of Pakistan is very bad and insulting.

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Ash20

Apr 28, 2017 04:31am

Does anybody believe that only 400 odd general theft happen in Islamabad in a year? This figure is unbelievable otherwise Islamabad will be considered top 10 peaceful city.

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Muhammad asim rao

Apr 28, 2017 01:08pm

I feel sorry for her - bag snatched. But this could also have happened in Canada too. It happened to a close friend of mine right in the middle of Toronto too. Wish her well and safe trip back to Canada.

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Arij

Apr 28, 2017 03:04pm

This is the norm. It could have happened to anybody. The lady should not have been carrying that much cash in the first place. My son who was on a visit to Karachi last month from New York was mugged by a customs officer at the baggage claim. He was stopped and asked if he was carrying any alcohol and he replied in the negative. He was asked to open his bag which only had two packets of chocolate for his grandparents. The customs 'officer' declared that the chocolates had alcohol and seized them . My son asked him to verify from the ingredients printed on the pack that there was no alcohol in them. He refused to do that. No receipt was issued, and my son was too tired to argue after a twenty three hour flight. If this is how customs officials behave with law abiding citizens, one can expect anything on the streets.

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