June 3, 2025
By Xari Jalil
ISLAMABAD
In a tragic and horrifying incident that took place in the capital city, Sana Yousaf, a 17 year old student from Chitral who was also a prominent Tik-Tok influencer was shot dead by a young man who barged inside her home. Her mother and aunt were home and had witnessed the incident. Yousaf was living in Sector G-13 of Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the perpetrator was seen in the CCTV footage walking quickly down the street right after the incident, which had occurred at around 5 PM. The police shortly arrested the suspect, while investigations have begun from multiple angles.
The incident
The incident incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Sumbal Police Station. Yousaf was shot five times by a man who entered her house, with two bullets striking her in the chest. The attacker fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Sana was rushed to PIMS Hospital in critical condition, but she succumbed to her injuries.
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Sumbal Police Station based on a complaint by the victim’s mother. The FIR states that the assailant entered the house around 5 PM and opened fire on Sana Yousaf without hesitation. According to the report, the family members witnessed the attacker and could identify him if brought forward.
The police obtained and analyzed CCTV footage from the surrounding area. In the footage, the suspect, clad in a black T-shirt, can be seen fleeing from G-13 at 5:09 PM. The video suggests that the suspect appears relatively young. Using this footage, the police intensified the investigation and examined possible escape routes.
Police media talk
On Tuesday, the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police, Ali Nasir Rizvi, stated in a press conference that the police took this case very seriously. He said seven special teams were formed immediately after the incident, which utilized modern technology to analyze data from over 300 phone calls and scrutinized social media activity as well.
According to the IG, a total of 11 raids were carried out to arrest the suspect, including three in Islamabad, two in Faisalabad, and one in Jaranwala.
“Within a short span of time in 20 hours we apprehended the suspect,” he said adding it was very difficult because it was a blind murder and they did not have any clues. The arrested suspect has been identified as Umar Hayat. ““We have recovered the weapon of offence after arresting him; Sana’s mobile was also taken from him. He wanted to erase all evidence from it. Basically it was a case of repeated rejections,” said the IG.
He explained the accused had been contacting her repeatedly, and she had been repeatedly rejecting him.
“On 29 May, on her birthday, he wanted to get in touch through social media and reached her home, and tried for 7 to 8 hours to contact her but could not,” said the IGP. “He tried for two days to meet her and then planned and barged inside her home and opened fire at her. He wanted to be friends with her, to be in contact – but she rejected him online. Then he managed to reach her home and tried to meet her, but she also did not meet him. So she rejected him physically as well. This enraged him.”
It was detailed that the accused has a matriculation-level education, and his father was a retired government employee of grade 16.
“This is not just a murder—it raises serious questions about the safety of our daughters and societal attitudes,” said the police officer. “We must encourage our girls who want to be professional social media influencers, or even if they want to do it as a hobby. The way the girl was mercilessly murdered is abominable.”
Risky business
Sana Yousaf was not only an emerging social media personality, with nearly 800,000 followers on TikTok and 500,000 on Instagram. She was also a first-year medical student. Sadly Yousaf Just hours before the incident, she had uploaded a video from Islamabad on Instagram.
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Wave of killings
Just a week ago, on May 27, in a similar case, a TikToker, Iqra , whose online persona was Thal Ki Shahzadi was reportedly murdered at her home in Noorpur Thal, in Khushab District. Authorities suspect the killing was an “honour killing,” allegedly carried out by her cousin due to his disapproval of her social media lifestyle content, a harsh reminiscence of the Qandeel Baloch case.
According to District Police Officer (DPO) Khushab, Tauqeer Muhammad Naeem, initial investigations indicate the murder was motivated by so-called “honour.” The suspect, reportedly angered by Iqra’s TikTok videos, allegedly shot her during a heated confrontation, leading to her immediate death.
Police quickly responded to the scene, apprehending the suspect. A murder case has been registered at the Noorpur Thal Police Station, and a comprehensive investigation is currently underway to ascertain all details of the incident.
Iqra had garnered a significant following on TikTok and other platforms, making her a recognized figure online. Her death has ignited a wave of condemnation across social media, with users demanding justice. This horrific event has once again prompted human rights advocates to call on authorities to enhance protections for women and implement tangible measures to prevent such “honour” violence.
Earlier in February 2025, a Peshawer based TikToker, Seema Gul aka Syco Arbab was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her residence. The post-mortem report, released approximately a week later, confirmed that Seema’s death resulted from a drug overdose. The forensic analysis detected the presence of multiple intoxicants, including alcohol, cocaine, THC, and other substances, in her body. Seema Gul, in her mid-20s, was a prominent figure on TikTok, boasting nearly a million followers and over 19 million likes. Her content, characterized by humorous sketches and relatable scenarios, resonated with a broad audience, making her a beloved personality in the digital community.
With the rise of social media among the youth, certain revenge or honour based killings are also rising.
TikTok influencer Ayat Maryam was tragically killed on April 29, 2025, in Lahore’s Nawab Town area. She was allegedly strangled to death by her husband, Saad, following a domestic dispute. The couple reportedly had a tumultuous relationship, marked by frequent arguments. Saad was arrested within 24 hours of the incident, and a formal murder case has been registered against him.
Ayat Maryam was known for her lifestyle content and dubbing clips on TikTok, where she had garnered a significant following. Her untimely death has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media, with fans expressing shock and sorrow over the loss.
Ansa Sajid, a 20-year-old In an alleged honor killing, a young woman was reportedly shot dead by her brothers due to her TikTok activities. The brothers attempted to stage the incident as a suicide. The incident occurred in the Dhok Korian area under the jurisdiction of the Chotala police station. According to police reports, Ansa’s brothers were enraged over her social media presence, particularly her TikTok videos, which they believed brought dishonor to the family. They allegedly shot her multiple times. Following the murder, the family attempted to portray the incident as a suicide. However, forensic evidence, including signs of physical torture and bullet wounds, contradicted this claim.
In March 2025, a tragic incident occurred involving Maimoona, a 23-year-old woman from Karachi, who was allegedly murdered by her Facebook acquaintance, Amjad, in Mian Channu, Punjab. Maimoona reportedly developed an online relationship with Amjad through Facebook. Over time, their interactions led to a sexual relationship, and she allegedly became pregnant. Seeking commitment, Maimoona traveled from Karachi to Amjad’s residence in Chak 126/15-L, Mian Channu, to urge him to fulfill his promise of marriage. However, Amjad allegedly decided to eliminate her. He is accused of torturing her to death and subsequently disposing of her body in a vacant area of the village. The body was discovered by locals, prompting a police investigation. Utilizing geofencing and other modern investigative techniques, the police traced the crime back to Amjad. He was arrested and, during interrogation, confessed to the crime, citing the pregnancy and his unwillingness to marry as motives.
A murder case has been registered against Amjad. The incident has sparked outrage and highlighted the dangers of online relationships, especially when they transition into real-life encounters without adequate precautions.
In March, Alishba Fatima, based in Muzaffargarh, received threats and abuse from a man Muzammil Rauf, after rejecting his friend request. A case was registered under the Telegraph Act and the youth was arrested.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced protections for female content creators in Pakistan, both online and offline. The convergence of digital exposure and societal challenges continues to pose significant risks to women’s safety and freedom of expression.