Murder Charge in Case of Pakistani TikTok Star Sana Yousaf

Fri Sep 26 2025 14:29:39 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A man has been formally charged with the murder of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf, provoking a national outcry regarding women's safety and social media dynamics in Pakistan.

Sana Yousaf, a popular TikTok star, was murdered in June after denying the advances of her alleged killer, Umar Hayat. The case has ignited discussions about the treatment of women in the digital age, including blame directed at the victim and the broader implications for female social media influencers in Pakistan. Hayat, who confessed to the crime but has since pleaded not guilty, is accused of breaking into Yousaf's home and shooting her. The incident has raised significant alarm over women's safety in a cultural context where female presence on social media is often contentious.

A man has been charged in Pakistan over the killing of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf, who had repeatedly rejected his advances.

Ms Yousaf's murder in June drew widespread condemnation but also sparked a backlash with some voices appearing to blame her, which ignited a fierce debate about the status of women active on social media.

Umar Hayat, 22, was arrested and confessed to the murder shortly after her death, yet he pleaded not guilty in Islamabad's district court on Saturday.

All the allegations made against me are baseless and false, the accused stated in court.

At the time of his arrest, authorities indicated that they believed Mr Hayat murdered Ms Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she turned down what they described as his offers of friendship. Allegedly, he attempted to meet her several times without success.

Reports claim he broke into her residence, fired two shots, stole her phone, and fled the scene.

Hayat, whose father was a former public servant and who is a TikTok user himself, was apprehended soon after the incident.

Prior to her murder, Ms Yousaf had amassed a significant following in Pakistan, with half a million followers on Instagram. Following her death, her TikTok account gained hundreds of thousands of fans overnight, now boasting more than two million followers.

Condolences flooded her social media accounts where she shared content about her favorite cafes, skincare routines, and traditional fashion. Her last shared video on Instagram depicted her celebrating her birthday, surrounded by balloons and cutting a cake.

In a country where TikTok thrives, many women find both a platform and an income that is uncommon in a society where fewer than a quarter of women participate in the formal economy.