Bahawalpur Royal Family Theft Suspects Arrested Rs70m Recovered
Six suspects arrested in connection with the theft at the former Bahawalpur royal family's Islamabad residence; police credit Safe City surveillance and intelligence, while questions remain over differing valuations of the recovered property.
ISLAMABAD, October 13, 2026: Islamabad Police have reported the recovery of valuables, stolen property and cash worth more than Rs70 million in connection with a high-profile theft at the residence of the Nawab of Bahawalpur’s family in Sector F-8/3.
According to a statement attributed to the Islamabad Police spokesperson, six suspects were arrested by Margalla Police Station following an investigation involving modern technology, Safe City surveillance cameras and information obtained through human intelligence sources.
The latest statement values the recovered property at more than Rs70 million, although this amount has not yet been independently verified.
Six Suspects Arrested Following Investigation
Police said investigators used surveillance footage, technical resources and intelligence-gathering methods to identify and trace individuals allegedly connected with the incident.
The investigation was conducted by Margalla Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the residential area where the reported theft occurred.
SSP Operations Islamabad Qazi Ali Raza credited the police team’s use of modern investigative techniques, Safe City cameras and human intelligence for tracing the case and apprehending the suspects.
The arrests were previously announced by Islamabad Police on October 5, when the department confirmed that six suspects had been taken into custody and approximately 70 to 80 percent of the stolen property had been recovered.
Historical Royal Valuables Reported Missing
Earlier reports identified the affected residence as belonging to Prince Bahawal Abbas Khan Abbasi, son of Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, a member of Bahawalpur’s former ruling family.
The missing collection reportedly included historical antiques, family heirlooms and valuable objects associated with the former princely State of Bahawalpur.
Items reported missing included a silver throne-like chair, a silver ladder, silver bowls, gold plates, decorative statues, historical silver frames and objects bearing the emblem of the former Bahawalpur State.
Other reported items included historical swords and antique firearms associated with the former princely state.
The reported theft attracted attention because of the historical and cultural significance of some of the missing objects.
However, police have not provided a detailed public inventory identifying precisely which items were recovered in the latest reported recovery.
Differences in Reported Property Valuations
The latest police statement’s claim of a recovery exceeding Rs70 million differs substantially from earlier reports that estimated the total value of the stolen property at approximately Rs20 million.
On October 5, Islamabad Police officially reported that around 70 to 80 percent of the stolen property had been recovered, without providing the newly stated Rs70 million valuation.
It remains unclear whether the higher figure reflects a revised assessment of historical valuables, additional recovered property or another change in the investigation’s valuation.
A detailed police clarification and itemised assessment would be necessary to reconcile the differing figures.
Legal Proceedings and Further Investigation
According to earlier court reporting, an Islamabad judicial magistrate granted police three days of physical remand of the six suspects on October 5 to facilitate further investigation and recovery efforts.
Police have indicated that investigators are continuing efforts to recover any outstanding property and identify additional individuals who may have been involved.
SSP Operations Qazi Ali Raza said Islamabad Police would continue taking action without discrimination against individuals involved in depriving citizens of their valuable possessions.
He further stated that all legal requirements would be completed to ensure that the arrested suspects face proceedings under the applicable law.
The suspects remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty by a competent court.
The case highlights the use of Safe City surveillance technology and conventional investigative methods in tracing high-value property offences in the federal capital.
