Peshawar:
Police in Peshawar have registered a case following the alleged abduction of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed near the Civil Officers’ Mess in the provincial capital. The incident, which has drawn immediate political condemnation, occurred late Monday night.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed early Tuesday by Javed’s friend Hira Babar at Peshawar’s Sharqi police station, invokes Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Babar claimed that she and Javed were intercepted at approximately 10:40 pm while driving back after having dinner. She described a coordinated effort: “We were blocked by a green Vigo while we were heading back… We tried to turn back but a white car appeared from behind to intercept us.”
The most concerning detail of the account involves the alleged inaction of those present. Babar told police: “Five men got out and attempted to force Sanam into their car. At this point, we started shouting for help, but the people in the surroundings, which included officers and security personnel, did not intervene.” She further claimed the car sped away, taking the activist towards the “Red Zone”.
Political Response and Human Rights Concerns
The alleged abduction was swiftly condemned by the PTI, which described the act on social media platform X as “shameful and deeply disturbing.” The party asserted that “such actions are a blatant violation of basic human rights and dignity, and they highlight the urgent need for accountability and justice.”
Taking official notice of the matter, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered an immediate investigation. A spokesperson for the Chief Minister vowed to arrest those responsible, stating, “The culprits will be severely punished,” and confirmed that the government is utilizing all its resources to find the perpetrators.
Sanam Javed is a high-profile PTI activist who has been consistently embroiled in legal and political controversies. She had been incarcerated for a year on charges related to over a dozen May 9 cases before her release was ordered by the Islamabad High Court last year. More recently, she faced arrest earlier this year for organizing a rally and was subsequently booked for allegedly posting derogatory content against the heads of state institutions on social media. Her sister was also recently arrested in a separate cybercrime case.
