An Islamabad court has announced the verdict in the murder case of social media influencer Sana Yousaf after both prosecution and defence completed their final arguments.
Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the reserved judgment, imposing a fine of Rs2 million on the convict, was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under other charges.
Sana Yousaf, a 17-year-old TikTok star with over a million followers, was widely known for her lifestyle content including café visits, skincare routines, and traditional fashion videos. Her killing in June 2025 sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over women’s safety in Pakistan.
Sana Yousaf’s parents reaction
Speaking to reporters outside court after the court hearing, the father of the victim, Yousaf, lauded the ruling, saying that the judiciary has delivered the sentence in line with justice.
“We were waiting for this day for 11 months. The day has finally arrived,” he said, thanking the lawyers and media for their support.
“This decision is not just for us, but for the entire society. This is a lesson that if someone commits [such a heinous act], this will be their ending,” he said.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother also praised the lawyers for presenting “a strong case”, saying that she was “happy to get justice from a Pakistani court”.
Complete verdict here
Confessional statements
According to earlier confessional statements, accused Umar Hayat had admitted that he travelled from Jaranwala to Islamabad on May 28 to wish Yousaf a happy birthday. He stated that when she refused to meet him, he felt ignored.
He further stated that on June 2 he returned to Islamabad in a rented Toyota Fortuner carrying a 30 bore pistol and forcibly entered her residence in Sector G 13. He allegedly shot her inside the house in the presence of her mother and maternal aunt and also took her mobile phone before fleeing the scene.
Hayat had earlier expressed remorse over the incident, stating that he regretted his actions and claimed his confession was given voluntarily.
Yesterday’s hearing
In the hearing on Monday (yesterday), the accused retracted his earlier confession and termed the incident a blind murder while denying all charges against him.
During his statement recorded under Section 342 before Judge Afzal Majoka, Hayat said he had no connection with the incident and claimed he never visited the victim’s residence.
He argued that there was no dispute or contact between him and Sana Yousaf and alleged that he was falsely implicated due to social media pressure and public sentiment following the incident.
Hayat further claimed that the investigation was flawed and stated that key CCTV footage and witnesses were not properly presented in court. He also alleged that he was arrested on suspicion because both he and the victim were known social media personalities.
The accused said he was in Faisalabad at the time of the incident and rejected the prosecution’s forensic and location evidence, calling it inconsistent with the timeline.
He also alleged irregularities in the identification parade, claiming unequal treatment compared to other participants and said witnesses present could confirm procedural unfairness.
Hayat claimed he was not given proper legal assistance during parts of the investigation and said some statements were recorded without the presence of his lawyers. He also denied allegations of mobile phone theft and other related charges.
He added that he had no confidence in the proceedings and maintained that he was subjected to coercion at the police station, claiming he was unaware of the contents of documents signed with his thumb impression.
The defence maintained that all allegations were false and that no confession or incriminating statement was validly made by the accused.
Also read: Sana Yousaf murder case: Accused accuses police of framing him
