Pakistani court charges man with murder of teenage TikTok influencer
Indictment follows shooting outside her home after she refused his friendship offer
ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani court on Saturday charged Umar Hayat, 22, with the murder of 17-year-old Sana Yousuf, a teenage social media influencer who was shot outside her home in Islamabad after she refused his offer of friendship, according to court officials. Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka indicted Hayat, who pleaded not guilty.
Hayat was arrested in June in the eastern city of Faisalabad, the authorities have said, in connection with the case that drew widespread condemnation after the fatal shooting earlier this year.
Footage aired on the private Samaa TV channel showed police leading a handcuffed Hayat into the courtroom.
Yousuf, originally from the Chitral region in northern Pakistan, was known for promoting traditional Chitrali music and dress on TikTok and for advocating girls’ education. Hours before her death, she posted a birthday celebration photo with friends.
TikTok enjoys immense popularity in Pakistan due to its easy-to-use, visually led format, with tens of millions of users. But the government has suspended the platform several times, citing concerns that the app promotes immoral or unlawful content.
The case underscores ongoing safety concerns around young content creators on social media platforms in Pakistan and the broader debate over how to regulate online content while balancing access to digital tools and education.