Pakistani court charges man in killing of social media personality Sana Yousaf

A Pakistani court indicted on Saturday the main suspect in the murder case of internet personality Sana Yousaf. The sentence was handed down to Umar Hayat on Saturday during a hearing overseen by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka in Islamabad, the country’s capital.

Hayat pleaded not guilty to all charges, calling the allegations “false and baseless.” Judge Majoka questioned him directly in court, asking whether he had killed Yousaf, entered her home unlawfully, or stolen her mobile phone. Hayat denied each accusation.

The court adjourned the case until September 25, when further hearings are expected.

The murder was initially reported at the Sumbal police station in Islamabad. Yousaf’s death has sparked outrage on social media and renewed calls for stronger protections for women and public figures in Pakistan’s online community.

Investigation

Sana, a rising social media star with hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, was shot dead inside her home in Islamabad’s G-13 sector on June 2. Her killing sparked widespread outrage and grief across the country.

Following the public outcry, law enforcement agencies swiftly launched an investigation and arrested the prime suspect a day later.

According to the charge sheet, Sana Yousaf was shot twice in the chest. The bullets damaged her right lung and heart, leading to death within two to three minutes, according to the autopsy.

Police recovered fingerprints belonging to Hayat from a mirror in Yousaf’s bedroom, and his presence in Islamabad on the day of the murder was confirmed through phone data.

The 30-bore pistol used in the shooting was recovered from a railway track, allegedly discarded by Hayat. Police also recovered one of Yousaf’s mobile phones from the crime scene and another from Hayat’s residence.

A blood-stained carpet, bullet casings, and digital records have also been submitted as evidence. Forensics were verified through Pakistan’s national database authority.