17-year-old Pakistani Tik Tok star Sana Yousaf was killed after repeatedly rejecting proposal; read to know more

Reason behind Sana Yousaf murder revealed

Following the tragic shooting death of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousuf in her Islamabad home on Monday, shockwaves have been felt throughout Pakistan and beyond.

With more than a million followers, the social media influencer was well-known for supporting girls' education and traditional Chitrali music.

A day after the murder, the Islamabad Police quickly captured the suspected murderer, 22-year-old Umar Hayat, in Faisalabad, Punjab province. After several unsuccessful attempts to establish a friendship with Sana, Umar—who is also a content creator—allegedly committed the act.

As per Mint, according to authorities, Umar travelled to Islamabad from May 28 to 29 in order to wish Sana a happy birthday, but for unknown reasons, he was unable to meet her.

He is suspected of breaking into her home on Monday, shooting her at close range, killing her instantly, and then trying to escape. Sana's phone and the murder weapon were retrieved from the suspect by the prompt police action.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi provided more details, stating: “The accused is a 22-year-old unemployed man who repeatedly attempted to contact the victim. Upon her refusal to respond, he committed the murder.” Rizvi further revealed that Umar had taken Sana’s mobile phone in an attempt to eliminate digital evidence, but investigators were able to retrieve it during his arrest.

According to local television coverage, the suspect entered court on Wednesday with his face hidden. To continue the investigation and collect additional evidence, police asked for more time. After granting the extension, the judge mandated that Umar be brought back for pretrial proceedings on June 18.

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Sana was from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral region, and her content emphasised promoting girls' access to education and honouring her heritage. She had sent friends pictures of her birthday celebration just hours before her tragic death.

Her heinous murder has sparked outrage around the world and rekindled discussions about South Asian women's safety and cyberbullying.