In a swift legal move, a district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday sent the primary suspect in the tragic murder case of social media influencer Sana Yousaf to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. The suspect, Umar Hayat, was arrested on Tuesday from Faisalabad and was presented before Duty Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad after the police filed charges under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code. He faces accusations of murdering the 17-year-old social media star at her residence in Islamabad’s Sector G-13/1.
The Murder of Sana Yousaf
Sana Yousaf, a popular social media influencer with over a million followers, was shot twice inside her home on Monday evening. Islamabad Police acted quickly, apprehending the suspect within 20 hours of the crime. The police utilized CCTV footage and mobile data analysis to track Hayat’s movements, leading to his arrest in Faisalabad.
During the court hearing, it was revealed that Umar Hayat, aged 22 and also a TikToker, had confessed to the murder. He claimed to be a friend of the victim and had visited her home shortly before the incident occurred. At the time of the shooting, Yousaf’s father, a government officer, was at work, and her mother had gone to the market. Her 15-year-old brother was away in Chitral, visiting family after completing his school exams.
Details of the Murder Incident
According to Yousaf’s aunt, who was reportedly present at the scene during the murder, Hayat and Yousaf had a brief conversation before the shooting. The aunt overheard Yousaf saying, “Go away from here. There are cameras all around, and I will fetch you some water.” Moments later, Hayat shot her twice in the chest, fatally wounding her. Following the incident, Hayat fled to Faisalabad.
The Investigation and Judicial Proceedings
Islamabad’s Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi later revealed that the motive behind the murder stemmed from repeated rejections by Yousaf, as Hayat had been attempting to contact her multiple times. The case garnered widespread attention, particularly due to the misogynistic reactions and misinformation flooding social media platforms.
During the court proceedings, District Prosecutor’s absence raised the judge’s ire. “Where are the prosecutors of my court? Generally, prosecutors are not present, but since this is a high-profile case all the prosecutors are present,” Magistrate Shehzad remarked. The case is set to continue once the district prosecutor is available.
The court approved a request from the investigation officer for an identity parade of the suspect, which will proceed during the 14-day judicial remand period.
Digital Rights Foundation Condemns the Murder
The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) has condemned the brutal murder of Yousaf and expressed concern over the harmful misinformation and gendered hate speech circulating on social media platforms. According to DRF, social media was flooded with unfounded claims about Yousaf’s personal life, her relationship with Hayat, and baseless insinuations about her family.
The Foundation underscored the alarming glorification of the murder on social media and noted that such reactions were indicative of a broader societal issue the normalization of violence against women, particularly those with an online presence. DRF’s statement emphasized that the “entrenched misogyny” prevalent online and offline continues to endanger women, urging authorities and communities to address these underlying issues.
