Islamabad: A Pakistani court has charged Umar Hayat, 22, with murder for the shooting of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousuf outside her home earlier this year. The killing, described by police as “gruesome and cold-blooded,” drew widespread national and international condemnation.
Court proceedings
Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka in Islamabad formally indicted Hayat, who pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court was told that Hayat also rejected allegations of stealing Yousuf’s mobile phone. Footage broadcast on Pakistan’s private Samaa TV showed Hayat handcuffed and escorted to the courtroom.
Hayat was arrested in June in Faisalabad, following an investigation into the murder. The victim’s death sparked outrage on social media and prompted calls for stronger action against violence targeting women.
Victim profile
Sana Yousuf, originally from Chitral, was known for promoting traditional Chitrali music and dress through her TikTok channel. She also advocated for girls’ education. Hours before her murder, she had shared a birthday celebration photo with friends on social media.
Police allege that the murder occurred after Yousuf repeatedly rejected Hayat’s friendship proposals. Some social media users made controversial comments attempting to justify the attack, highlighting prevailing honour-based social attitudes toward women in the country.
Context of violence
TikTok has become extremely popular in Pakistan, giving women a platform for creative expression and income, though the government has occasionally suspended the app over concerns of immoral content.
Violence against women remains a serious issue in Pakistan. In July, a father shot his daughter after she refused to delete her TikTok account. Earlier, the high-profile Noor Mukadam case in 2021 saw a Pakistani-American boyfriend sentenced to death after beheading his girlfriend for rejecting a marriage proposal.
Experts note that attacks following rejected proposals are sadly not uncommon, underscoring the challenges women face in public and online spaces in Pakistan.