Kanwal Aftab

Kanwal Aftab (born 9 January 1998) is a Pakistani social media personality and digital journalist. She became known for her work on short-form video platforms and her reporting with digital media outlets.^[1]

Kanwal Aftab
Born	(1998-01-09) January 9, 1998 (age 27) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Occupation(s)	Social media personality, journalist
Years active	2019–present
Spouse	Zulqarnain Sikandar (m. 2021)
Children	1
Relatives	Farhan Rana Rajpoot

Early life and education

Aftab was born in Lahore, Punjab. She studied Mass Communication at the University of Central Punjab.^[2]

Career

Aftab started her media career as a reporter with UrduPoint.^[3]

She gained further visibility through her content on TikTok, where she posted short videos. Her following grew during the platform’s popularity surge in Pakistan.^[4][5] She has also appeared in web-based programs and digital interviews.^[6]

Personal life

Aftab's parents separated during her early schooling.^[7] In April 2021, Aftab married social media content creator Zulqarnain Sikandar.^[8] The couple has one child, born in 2023.^[9]

Controversies

In June 2023, Aftab was criticized for suggesting during an Instagram Q&A that women should try to reform abusive husbands instead of seeking divorce. She later clarified her remarks but faced backlash for appearing to downplay domestic violence.^[10]

In August 2022, a small brand accused her of failing to fulfill promotional obligations after receiving free products, raising concerns about influencer ethics.^[11]

In November 2024, a private video allegedly involving Aftab was leaked online. While its authenticity remains unverified and she did not comment publicly, the leak prompted broader conversations about digital privacy and online harassment.^[12]

In January 2025, she criticized fellow influencers for not supporting her husband, Zulqarnain Sikandar, after his arrest for displaying firearms at a public event.^[13]