Pakistani Court Charges Man in Influencer’s Murder Case
A court in Islamabad, Pakistan, has brought murder charges against a man accused of killing a teenage social media influencer after she rejected his friendship offer. The incident, which occurred earlier this year, has drawn significant attention.
Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka presided over the hearing, where Umar Hayat, 22, was indicted for the murder of 17-year-old Sana Yousuf. Hayat, a content creator on TikTok, entered a plea of not guilty.
The arrest took place in June in Faisalabad, a city in eastern Pakistan. Yousuf’s untimely death has sparked widespread condemnation across the country.
During the court proceedings, Judge Majoka inquired whether Hayat was responsible for Yousuf’s death, to which Hayat denied the accusation. He also refuted claims of stealing her mobile phone, according to a court official who spoke to The Associated Press under anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the media.
Video footage broadcasted on Pakistan’s private Samaa TV network showed law enforcement escorting a handcuffed Hayat to the courtroom.
Yousuf hailed from the picturesque northern region of Chitral and was celebrated for using her TikTok platform to promote traditional Chitrali music and attire. She was also an advocate for girls’ education. Just hours before her tragic death, she shared a photo of her birthday celebration with friends.
TikTok, with its user-friendly and visually engaging format, boasts tens of millions of users in Pakistan. However, the app has faced temporary bans, as the government has periodically suspended it, citing concerns over the promotion of inappropriate or illegal content.
