SLAMABAD: A court in Islamabad on Tuesday sentenced the main suspect to death in the murder case of social media influencer and TikToker Sana Yousuf after a lengthy trial.
Court Announces Verdict
Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the ruling in open court, convicting Umar Hayat in the case, according to court proceedings. The court also sentenced him to 10 years in prison under robbery-related provisions, and another 10 years under house trespass charges, imposing a total fine of Rs20 million.
He was further sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 under Section 411 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), with an additional one month’s imprisonment in case of default of payment.
Suspect Had Confessed to the Crime
Last year, Umar Hayat — the son of a retired government official and himself a TikToker — had confessed before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that he shot Sana Yousuf. The confession played a key role in the prosecution’s case against him.
Background of the Case
Sana Yousuf, a popular social media influencer and TikTok personality, was murdered under circumstances that sparked widespread outrage across Pakistan. The case drew significant media attention due to the victim’s online following and the accused’s background as a fellow content creator.
The death sentence, while handed down by the sessions court, is subject to automatic review by a higher court, as is standard in capital punishment cases in Pakistan. The convict retains the right to file an appeal against the verdict in the Islamabad High Court.
The ruling has been welcomed by legal observers and women’s rights advocates, who have called for swift justice in cases of violence against women and social media personalities. Further proceedings regarding the appeal process are expected in the coming weeks.
