Seventeen-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf, whose videos and vibrant personality had captured the hearts of millions across Pakistan, was shot dead in Islamabad this week simply because she rejected the advances of a man who refused to take no for an answer.
Her tragic murder has sparked a wave of anger and grief across the country, reigniting urgent conversations about violence against women, misogyny, and the dangers of online visibility for Pakistani girls and women.
Who Was Sana Yousaf?
Sana Yousaf was a beloved social media influencer originally from Chitral. She had over 1.1 million followers on TikTok and a growing fan base on Instagram.
Her videos, often simple lip-syncs and light-hearted moments, resonated with young audiences across Pakistan. Her final TikTok post a joyful montage celebrating her birthday with friends now stands as a haunting memory of a life so full of promise.
She was laid to rest in her ancestral graveyard in Chuinj village, Chitral, on Tuesday.
What Happened to Sana?
The horrifying attack took place on Monday, June 2, in Islamabad. According to police reports and media sources, Umar Hayat had been harassing Sana for months, persistently pursuing her for “friendship.” She had repeatedly rejected him. His obsession escalated, and on that fateful day, he forcibly entered her residence with a gun.
Witnesses say an argument broke out. In a fit of rage, Umar shot Sana twice in the chest. She succumbed to her injuries on the spot. Her body was later shifted to PIMS Hospital, where a post-mortem was conducted. After completing the legal formalities, her body was handed over to her devastated family.
The Last Words of a Young Girl
New details about Sana’s final moments, reported by ARY News, have left the public heartbroken. Moments before she was killed, Sana reportedly tried to calm her stalker 22-year-old Umar Hayat, also known as Kaka and asked him to leave:
You’re getting agitated, leave this place. There are CCTV cameras, please depart.
But her plea went unheard. Moments later, two gunshots rang out. Sana was shot outside her own home and died on the spot, her life cut short in a senseless act of violence.
A Swift Police Response
In a rare instance of swift action, the Islamabad Police moved quickly to apprehend the suspect. Within 20 hours, Umar Hayat was arrested during a raid in Faisalabad. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi publicly praised the quick response, posting on X:
Well done Islamabad Police. Sana Yousuf murder case solved, accused arrested, and weapon recovered within 20 hours.
During a detailed press briefing, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, revealed:
“The Sana Yousuf case has sent shockwaves through Islamabad and across the country.”
He further shared that:
- 7 investigation teams were formed
- 37 individuals were questioned
- 11 raids were carried out in Islamabad and Faisalabad
- The murder weapon and Sana’s iPhone were recovered from the suspect’s possession
IGP Rizvi confirmed that Umar was a matric-pass youth who had made multiple attempts to contact Sana. After she continuously rejected him, he allegedly resorted to murder.
Pakistan Reacts: Outrage and Grief
The murder has triggered a wave of public outrage and demands for justice.
The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) released a strong statement:
We will not let this case be buried under social stigma, false narratives of honour, or procedural loopholes. This senseless killing highlights the vulnerability of women and girls, even in their own homes. We demand justice for Sana and her family, and expect the state to ensure accountability of the perpetrators.
Aurat March, the country’s leading feminist movement, also condemned the killing:
We, the Aurat March chapters across the country, demand justice for Sana a 17-year-old girl and TikToker who tragically lost her life to patriarchal violence.
Patriarchy feels most threatened when women & gender minorities claim voice and visibility in public by challenging the stand pat norms. In response, it turns to violence the ultimate tool to silence, control, and erase.
This is exactly what happened to Sana who was killed inside her own home by a violent man who couldn’t take no for an answer. This wasn’t a random hit, this was a planned attack where a minor girl’s privacy and home were invaded by a man who thought he would get away with it.
Leading actress Mahira Khan echoed the public sentiment, posting on Instagram:
“Disgusted to the core.”
A Pattern of Violence That Cannot Be Ignored
Sana Yousaf’s murder is not an isolated case. In recent years, young women with an online presence have increasingly become targets of violence in Pakistan.
Nighat Dad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, explained the dangerous pattern:
Sana Yousaf’s murder is part of a horrifying, ongoing pattern of violence against women in Pakistan, especially those who dare to exist with autonomy. These are not isolated incidents. What connects them is a culture where women are punished for visibility, independence, and saying no. At the heart of this pattern is fragile masculinity and deeply rooted misogyny. When young women assert boundaries or say no to romantic or sexual advances, it bruises the male ego, especially in a society that teaches men entitlement over women’s bodies and choices. This entitlement, when left unchecked by law, culture, and platforms, turns deadly.
Other Cases That Mirror This Tragedy
Pakistan has seen a disturbing rise in similar cases:
- In January 2025, Hira Anwar (14) was murdered by her own father in Quetta after he found her TikTok videos “objectionable.”
- In October 2024, a man in Karachi killed four female relatives, aged 12 to 60, in a gruesome attack.
- In 2022, Pakistani-American Sania Khan (29) was shot and killed by her ex-husband in Chicago after posting about her divorce on TikTok.
- The 2016 murder of Qandeel Baloch (26) — one of Pakistan’s most well-known online personalities — remains one of the most infamous “honour killings” in the country.
- In 2021, Noor Mukadam was brutally murdered in Islamabad. Her killer was recently sentenced to death after an intense public campaign for justice.
The Statistics Paint a Grim Picture
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), at least 346 women were killed in the name of “honour” in 2024 a rise from 324 in 2023. But these figures likely don’t include cases like Sana’s, where the perpetrator was not a family member, but rather a man whose advances were rejected.
Nighat Dad warned:
We need systemic change. The state must treat online misogyny and gender-based violence as connected threats and not separate issues. When a woman says no, and a man responds with violence, that’s not heartbreak, it’s abuse.
A National Reckoning
Sana Yousaf’s murder has become a national moment of reckoning. A bright, young life was stolen simply because she dared to say no a chilling reminder of the everyday risks faced by Pakistani women and girls who choose to live, speak, and exist on their own terms.
The public is watching closely. Justice must be swift and uncompromising not just for Sana, but for every woman in Pakistan who faces the same dangers.
