Islamabad Police arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the murder of 17-year-old TikToker Sana Yousaf, who was shot dead in her G-13 sector home on June 2.
The Sana Yousaf murder suspect, apprehended in Faisalabad, confessed to the crime, driven by repeated rejections from the influencer, according to Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi.
The suspect, identified as Umar Hayat, also known as “Kaka,” is a high school graduate from a lower-middle-income family. He was tracked down using CCTV footage from 113 cameras and mobile data analysis. Hayat shot Sana twice in the chest after failing to establish contact with her, including a prolonged attempt on her birthday, May 29. The police recovered the murder weapon and Sana’s iPhone, which Hayat took in an attempt to erase evidence.
TikToker Sana Yousaf's mother described the murder suspect as having a “smart appearance, moderate physique and height”, and dressed in a black shirt and pants.https://t.co/AIMilNtykQ
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) June 3, 2025A First Information Report (FIR) under Section 302 (intentional murder) was filed by Sana’s mother, Farzana Yousaf, who witnessed the 5 PM shooting alongside her sister-in-law. Rizvi called it a “blind murder” solved within 20 hours, crediting seven police teams and media leads. The Islamabad police arrest sparked outrage, with comparisons to past TikToker killings.
Well Done Islamabad Police. Sana Yousaf murder case traced, accused arrested and weapon recovered within 20 hours
The incident occurred yesterday in Islamabad when a young girl was murdered by a masked accused. The accused has been arrested just an hour back. Police has… pic.twitter.com/jmQx9xAlhm
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) June 3, 2025Sana, from Upper Chitral, had over 800,000 TikTok and 500,000 Instagram followers, known for lifestyle and women’s rights content. Her death, following similar cases like Hira’s in Quetta, highlights risks for female influencers in Pakistan, where TikTok faces intermittent bans. Rizvi emphasised supporting social media as a profession.
Read: 17-Year-Old TikToker Sana Yousaf Shot Dead in Islamabad
The Sana Yousaf murder suspect case underscores the dangers faced by young influencers, amplifying calls for justice and societal change. The swift arrest of the Faisalabad suspect demonstrates policing efficiency but raises questions about protecting social media influencer murder victims, impacting Pakistan’s digital and cultural landscape in 2025.
