A Pakistani court sentenced a man to death Tuesday for murdering a teenage influencer, sentencing him after she had repeatedly rejected his advances before being shot at her home in the capital.
Background
Sana Yousaf was a 17-year-old TikTok star with millions of followers who posted videos about food, fashion and skincare. She also spoke openly about relationship problems, a topic still considered taboo in Pakistan's conservative society. On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Judge Mohammad Ali announced the sentence against 22-year-old Umar Hayat inside a cramped Islamabad courtroom.
The murder occurred in June 2025 when Hayat shot Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his romantic advances, according to police and the teenager's family. The case drew nationwide condemnation and reignited fierce debate over women's safety in Pakistan, where violence against women remains pervasive, according to the country's Human Rights Commission.
The killing triggered an outpouring of comments under Yousaf's final post — a video celebrating her 17th birthday where she blew out candles on a cake just days before her death. Alongside condolence messages, some users blamed the teenager for her own murder, writing comments such as "You reap what you sow" and "It's deserved, she was tarnishing Islam."
The Investigation
Islamabad police investigated the case following Yousaf's killing in June 2025. Officers arrested Hayat in connection with the shooting at her residence. Prosecutors presented evidence that Hayat had repeatedly approached Yousaf before the murder and she had rejected his advances.
The court found Hayat guilty of murder under Pakistani law, sentencing him to death by hanging along with a fine of approximately $7,200. The case joins other high-profile violence against women cases in Pakistan, including the 2021 beheading of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam by Zahir Jaffer after she rejected his marriage proposal.
TikTok enjoys immense popularity in Pakistan due to its easy-to-use and visually led format, with tens of millions of users. Women have found both audience and income on the app, which remains rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of women participate in the formal economy.
Key Takeaways
- Sana Yousaf was a 17-year-old TikTok influencer with millions of followers who posted content about fashion, food and skincare
- Umar Hayat, 22, sentenced to death for shooting Yousaf at her home after she repeatedly rejected his advances
- Court imposed a fine of approximately $7,200 in addition to the death sentence
- Case sparked debate over women's safety and online harassment in Pakistan
- Victim faced blame from some social media users despite widespread condemnation of the killing
What's Next
Hayat's defense may pursue appeals of the death sentence through Pakistan's higher courts. Human rights advocates are expected to continue using the case to push for stronger protections for women and stricter enforcement against online harassment that can escalate to violence.