Main accused ‘confesses’ to murder of Pakistani TikToker Sana Yousaf

In a major breakthrough in the murder case of popular Pakistani TikToker Sana Yousaf, prime accused Umar Hayat has confessed to killing her, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The admission was made before a magistrate in Islamabad, marking a critical turn in the ongoing investigation.

According to court officials, Hayat recorded his statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Monday, June 23, before Magistrate Yasir Nazir. In his confession, he admitted to murdering Yousaf, claiming he did so after she repeatedly refused to meet him.

Senior police officials and court sources revealed that Hayat told the magistrate that Sana had invited him to meet on May 29, her birthday, but failed to show up.

He claimed he waited for hours before being asked to leave, despite bringing a birthday gift she later allegedly refused to accept.

Hayat further claimed that on June 2, Sana once again called him for a meeting but did not appear. Overwhelmed by frustration and emotional turmoil, he said he went to her residence in a fit of rage and killed her.

“I was deeply hurt when she refused to meet me again and again. In a moment of rage, I went to her house and killed her,” Hayat said.

The accused's confession has been submitted in a sealed envelope to the sessions court in Islamabad, where it will be presented as key evidence during the trial. Magistrate Yasir Nazir will also be present when the statement is officially disclosed in court.

Case background

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. The probe has since led to a confession from Hayat within the same month.

While the confession is seen as a major development in the investigation, legal experts caution that it must be backed by physical evidence and subjected to full scrutiny during the trial. So far, the police have not issued an official statement regarding the confession.

The high-profile case has gripped public attention and is being closely monitored by civil society, legal experts, and the digital media community alike.