Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur has addressed the controversy surrounding Sanam Javed, denying wrongdoing and outlining his account of events linked to her alleged abduction in Peshawar last year.
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Speaking publicly about the case, Gandapur said the PTI social media activist had stayed at both the KP House and the Chief Minister’s House for nearly two months during a period of political mobilisation. He claimed she sometimes left the premises without informing him or security staff, which he said led to confusion about her movements and false accusations against him.
“The lack of security during her outings resulted in an alleged abduction, and I was wrongly implicated,” he said, adding that a formal kidnapping case had been registered that also named a female friend who had accompanied her. According to Gandapur, the matter was misrepresented publicly because details about the companion were not disclosed at the time.
He urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions without proper investigation, saying premature judgments contradicted Islamic principles of justice and due process.
The controversy dates back to October 7, 2025, when police registered a First Information Report at Sharqi Police Station in Peshawar over the reported abduction of Sanam Javed by unidentified individuals. The complaint was filed on behalf of advocate Hira Babar, while provincial authorities confirmed that an investigation had been ordered.
At the time, Gandapur — then chief minister — directed law enforcement agencies to conduct a transparent probe and ensure the arrest of those responsible. In a separate statement, Sheikh Waqas Akram, information secretary of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleged that Javed had been forcibly taken from a vehicle on a busy highway in Peshawar by men in two cars.
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The case remains politically sensitive, reflecting broader tensions surrounding PTI activists and leadership amid ongoing legal and security disputes.