Prime suspect identified in teen content creator Sana Yousaf’s murder case

The prime suspect in the murder of 17-year-old content creator Sana Yousaf has been identified by her mother and paternal aunt during an official identification parade in Adiala Jail, officials confirmed Friday.

The identification, carried out under the supervision of a magistrate, marks a major development in the high-profile case that has gripped Pakistan.

“Both women confirmed that Umar Hayat was the person who shot Sana,” police sources said.

Police now plan to request physical remand of the accused on June 20 to further investigate the case and collect evidence.

Shot twice at close range

Sana was killed on June 2 at her home in Islamabad’s G-13 sector. The initial post-mortem report confirms she was shot twice at close range.

Despite the mounting evidence, sources in Adiala Jail say the suspect, Umar Hayat, continues to deny any involvement. He reportedly claims someone else was responsible for the murder.

Concerns over police conduct

Legal experts have raised concerns about a detailed press conference held by Islamabad’s police chief on June 3 — a day after the arrest — in which the suspect was publicly named before being identified by the victim’s family.

Some fear that such early disclosures could compromise the fairness and integrity of the investigation.

According to police, Umar Hayat, 22, had been obsessively pursuing Sana, a rising TikTok and Instagram personality with hundreds of thousands of followers. He allegedly shot her after repeated rejections of his advances.

The suspect was arrested within 20 hours of the murder. On June 4, he was produced in court, where investigators requested a 14-day remand for identification procedures, which the court approved.

Family thanks police and public

Speaking to Nukta, Sana’s father, Yousaf Hassan, thanked the Islamabad police, law enforcement agencies, and the media — including social media — for their support.

He said the case is progressing due to the personal interest of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

“I don’t want to talk about the legal aspects of the case,” Hassan added.

Police are expected to produce Umar Hayat in court again on June 20 to seek his physical remand for further interrogation and recoveries.