RAWALPINDI, Feb 21: Former minister and member of Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly and his wife were robbed, while they were sitting in a car, outside a shopping centre.

The couple was accosted by an unidentified gunman while shopping here at Rehmanabad, on Wednesday evening, said police officials.

Syed Shaukat Ali Shah, member of AJK legislative assembly, who belongs to PML-N, was sitting in his car with his wife, when an unidentified man suddenly appeared on the scene and snatched the wife’s purse.

The purse contained jewellery and cash.

The legislator visibly in distress over the whole episode, said: “My wife and daughter are in distress since the looted jewellery had sentimental value for them,” adding that there was no policeman, no warden and even no private guard on duty, who could have helped them.

The former minister AJK lodged a complaint with the New Town police, informing that after drawing gold jewellery weighing 40 tolas from a bank locker, he along with his wife and son went to Rabi Centre Rehmanabad for shopping.

The minister said that his son walked into the market leaving them in the car, when the incident happened.

The purse according to the legislator besides jewellery contained Rs30,000 in cash, 1,540 British pounds and 520 US dollars.

“I was disappointed on seeing the coldness of the people present on the scene of the robbery as none of them came forward to help me. As I asked a motorbike rider to help me in chasing the robber, he denied saying that he could not put his life in danger,” the former minister told Dawn.

Disappointed over the attitude of the police, the politician said: “Police came there, asked some questions, saw the crime scene and returned back.”