A local court in Islamabad delivered a death sentence to Umar Hayat, the principal accused in the murder of social media influencer Sana Yousaf. Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the verdict, also imposing a fine of Rs2 million on Hayat.
In a concise two-page judgment, Judge Majoka handed down multiple fines under various charges. Hayat was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a Rs200,000 fine under Section 392, and an additional 10 years imprisonment plus a Rs200,000 fine under Section 499. Furthermore, a one-year jail term and Rs100,000 fine were imposed under Section 411. Collectively, these penalties amount to a total prison sentence of 21 years and fines of Rs2.5 million.
Sana Yousaf was a prominent TikTok influencer in Pakistan, boasting over 800,000 followers where she shared lip-sync videos, skincare advice, and beauty product promotions. She had recently turned 17 before her tragic death at her home in Islamabad on June 2, 2025. Across all her social media platforms, she had amassed more than one million followers.
During the previous hearing on Monday, Umar Hayat withdrew his earlier confession, describing the case as a “blind murder” and denying involvement. He claimed he was in Faisalabad at the time and criticized the investigation for lacking proper presentation of CCTV footage and witnesses. Hayat alleged that his confession was coerced and that he was denied adequate legal representation during parts of the inquiry. He also challenged the fairness of the identification parade and accused authorities of implicating him due to social media pressure, maintaining that all evidence against him was fabricated.
After the ruling, Sana’s father expressed relief and satisfaction with the court’s decision, calling it a long-awaited moment after 11 months. He thanked the legal team and media for their support, emphasizing that the verdict serves as a societal warning against committing such heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the victim’s mother commended the lawyers for their strong case presentation and expressed happiness over the justice delivered by the Pakistani judiciary.
In the hearing, prosecutor Naveed Kiayani summarized the evidence, noting that 27 witnesses had testified and medical along with documentary proofs were submitted. He detailed that Hayat was arrested the day after the murder and underwent identification procedures. Testimonies from doctors at PIMS confirmed the victim suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the heart and lungs, indicating intent to kill.
The prosecution further revealed that the victim’s mobile phone was recovered and played a key role in tracing the accused’s number. The father of the deceased recognized the phone as part of the case evidence. Call records and chat screenshots linked Hayat to the murder, and the judge ordered the phone to be produced in court. It was also disclosed that Hayat attempted to destroy evidence but was tracked through digital and investigative means.
Statements from Sana’s mother, Farzana Yousaf, who was home during the incident, along with eyewitness accounts, corroborated identification of the accused and descriptions of the weapon and attire. The post-mortem, conducted late at night, supported the prosecution’s narrative.
The defense counsel argued for capital punishment as well, while the complainant’s lawyer had earlier requested strict penalties. The court was informed that identification witnesses had no prior knowledge of the accused before the parade. With the prosecution’s arguments concluded, the judge reserved the verdict, which was subsequently announced.
