Sana Yousaf's last post was a birthday video

Just a day after Sana Yousaf posted a video of herself cutting a birthday cake on social media, she was shot dead inside her home.

The 17-year-old was killed on Monday evening in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

A rising digital star and aspiring doctor, Yousaf had built a large online following — nearly 800,000 on TikTok and close to 500,000 on Instagram — where she shared glimpses of her daily life, study routines, and lighthearted moments that resonated with a young audience.

“She was a sweet, cheerful soul,” said a friend, speaking to Nukta on condition of anonymity. “Even while studying, she found time to share her life with others online. None of us could believe it when the news appeared in our college WhatsApp groups.”

As news of her murder spread, speculation swirled on social media, with some suggesting it could be an honor killing. But a journalist from Chitral — Yousaf's ancestral home in Pakistan’s scenic north — dismissed that theory.

“There is no tradition of honor killings in Chitral,” she said, urging restraint and sensitivity as details continue to emerge.

Eldest of two siblings

Yousaf was the eldest of two siblings. Her younger brother, 15, was away visiting family in Upper Chitral at the time of the attack, having just completed his exams. Her mother, Farzana Yousaf, and an aunt were home and witnessed the horrific incident.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed with the police, a man dressed in black entered their home in Islamabad’s G-13 sector around 5 p.m. on Monday.

“He went directly to the room where Sana was and fired at her with the intent to kill. Two bullets struck her in the chest. She collapsed on the floor, seriously injured,” her mother told police.

Neighbors rushed over after hearing the gunshots and helped transport her to the hospital in a private car, but she succumbed to her injuries.

Speaking to Nukta by phone, her father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, said the family had no known enemies and no reason to suspect anyone in particular.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the alleged attacker had been arrested.

As the investigation unfolds, the tragic killing has sparked an outpouring of grief — and reflection — over a promising young life cut short.