An Islamabad sessions court has announced its verdict in the high-profile Sana Yousaf murder case, sentencing accused Umar Hayat to death. The decision was delivered on Tuesday by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka after months of court proceedings and witness testimonies. The case attracted nationwide attention due to the victim’s popularity on social media.
The court also ordered the convict to pay Rs2 million as compensation to the legal heirs of Sana Yousaf. According to prosecutors, the accused entered the 17-year-old TikTok star’s residence in Islamabad’s Sector G-13 on June 2, 2025, and allegedly shot her dead. Umar Hayat reportedly belongs to Faisalabad.
The Sana Yousaf murder case remained under trial for several months, with more than 50 hearings conducted by the court. The charge sheet submitted by investigators included 31 witnesses, while 27 individuals recorded their statements during the proceedings. Prosecutors described the case as strong due to eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence.
During the hearings, Sana Yousaf’s mother and paternal aunt appeared before the court as eyewitnesses. Their statements played an important role in the prosecution’s case against the accused. The court had formally indicted Umar Hayat on September 20 last year, while witness testimonies began shortly afterward.
Sana Yousaf was widely known for her growing influence on social media platforms. She had nearly 800,000 followers on TikTok and around 500,000 followers on Instagram at the time of her death. Her murder sparked public outrage and renewed discussions about the safety of young social media personalities in Pakistan.
Police arrested Umar Hayat on June 3, 2025, just one day after the incident. Authorities said the arrest was made during an investigation launched immediately after the killing. Law enforcement agencies claimed they gathered evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene.
The Sana Yousaf murder case continues to draw public attention even after the verdict. A murder FIR had initially been registered at Sumbal police station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Sana’s mother, Farzana Yousaf. The verdict is being viewed as a major development in one of Pakistan’s most widely discussed criminal cases.
