Career
She was named to the upper house by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on July 9, 2010, and will sit with the Conservative caucus. With this appointment, Ataullahjan became the first Canadian senator of Pakistani Pushtun descent. She had been the Conservative Party"s unsuccessful candidate in Mississauga—Brampton South during the 2008 federal election losing to Liberal Member of Parliament Navdeep Bains.
She immigrated to Canada in 1980 from Pakistan as a new bride.
Prior to her appointment to the Senate she worked in the Toronto area as a realtor. She has a diploma in computer operations and is also an artist.
She stated her political heroes were Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Emily Stowe and Terry Fox. She founded the parents council at David Lewis Public School in Toronto and has also served on the executive of the Pakistani Canadian Professionals and Academics and as president and vice-president of the Canadian Pashtun Cultural Association.
She is also on the executive of the South Asian Regional Council and Citizens Foundation"s Toronto chapter.
Ataullahjan was born in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.