Pakistan’s 17-year-old TikTok influencer, Sana Yousaf, was tragically shot dead by an intruder in her own home, sending shockwaves throughout the country. The police have arrested a 22-year-old man, accusing him of harboring ill intentions after his advances were rejected by the victim, leading to the fatal incident.
According to police reports, the suspect, Umar Hayat, allegedly held a grudge against Sana Yousaf for repeatedly turning down his friendship advances. On Monday, May 27th, he broke into her home in the capital city of Islamabad and shot her before fleeing with her phone, leaving her lifeless.
Approximately 20 hours after the incident, police arrested Umar Hayat in Faisalabad, Punjab, and recovered the suspected murder weapon along with Sana Yousaf’s phone. Umar Hayat has confessed to the crime.
Sana Yousaf’s father, Yousaf Hassan, described his daughter as the only child in the family and “extremely brave.” She was laid to rest in their hometown of Chitral.
Hassan mentioned that his daughter had never mentioned Umar Hayat before and had not shown any signs of being threatened. During the attack, Sana Yousaf’s aunt was also at home and was threatened at gunpoint by the suspect. Sana Yousaf, however, succumbed to her injuries before being able to receive medical treatment.
The police described the heinous crime as drawing “enormous attention” nationwide, with calls from various sectors of society to thoroughly investigate and bring the perpetrator to justice. However, amid the controversy surrounding the case, there are also voices questioning whether her active social media presence had attracted danger upon her.
Before her tragic death, Sana Yousaf had amassed a large following on TikTok, with her fan base quickly exceeding 1.3 million after her demise. She frequently shared selfies and short videos showcasing traditional and modern outfits, exuding confidence and youthful energy that resonated with young internet users.
The digital rights organization “Bolo Bhi” pointed out that much of the criticism came from male internet users, some even invoking religious reasons to demand her family delete her account, claiming that her content “added to her sins.”
Human rights scholar Dr. Farzana Bari criticized such comments as being tainted with “patriarchy and misogyny,” highlighting how this incident once again reflects the threats and hostility faced by female content creators on social platforms.
Islamabad Police Chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi publicly stated that women who choose to voice their opinions on social media “should be encouraged and supported,” deeming Sana Yousaf’s death as “heartbreaking.”
Police confirmed that Umar Hayat is the son of a former government official from Faisalabad town and that the case is still under further investigation.