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Sana Yousaf, a 17-year-old TikTok star in Pakistan, was allegedly shot dead by Umar Hayat, 22, in her residence in Islamabad for rejecting his advances.
Pakistani TikToker Sana Yousaf was shot dead in June. (File)
The suspect behind the murder of Sana Yousaf, a 17-year-old TikTok star in Pakistan, has been formally charged by a court, according to AFP. Umar Hayat, 22, had pleaded not guilty in Islamabad’s district court on Saturday.
Yousaf was allegedly shot dead by Hayat in June in front of her mother and aunt at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances, police said. The murder led to widespread condemnation and calls for strengthening women safety, particularly after some online comments blamed the victim.
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“All the allegations made against me are baseless and false,” Hayat told the Islamabad court. However, police describe Yousaf’s murder as a “gruesome and cold-blooded” act, saying Hayat killed Yousaf after she repeatedly rejected his proposals.
Earlier, police said Hayat had completed only his matriculation and hailed from a lower-middle-income background with “no source of income”. Investigators said in an effort to possibly erase evidence, he took Yousaf’s mobile phone with him after the shooting.
Who Was Sana Yousaf?
Yousaf, who turned 17 on May 29, was a TikTok star with more than a million followers across her social media accounts. She was also an advocate for women’s education and cultural heritage, gaining popularity for highlighting Chitrali culture.
Sana Yousaf hailed from Upper Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was the daughter of a social activist. She often spoke about issues impacting her community, particularly those concerning young women. She also shared videos of her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional outfits.
How Was She Killed?
As per the police complaint filed by the deceased TikTok’s mother, the shooter barged in their Islamabad house at around 5 pm and shot Yousaf at point-blank range. She was struck by two bullets in the chest and, although she was rushed to the hospital, she did not survive.
Some comments in social media posts sharing the news of Yousaf’s murder suggested that it was justified in a society where honour codes dictate how women should behave. “You reap what you sow,” said one comment.
According to Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission, violence against women is pervasive in the Pakistani society and cases of women being attacked after rejecting marriage proposals are not uncommon.
In 2021, 27-year-old Noor Mukadam was brutally beheaded by her Pakistani-American boyfriend, Zahir Jaffer, after she declined his marriage proposal – a horrific case that triggered nationwide outrage.
(with AFP inputs)
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
Islamabad, Pakistan
September 20, 2025, 15:50 IST
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