The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a petition seeking to transfer the murder trial of TikToker Sana Yousuf, ordering that the case remain before the current court. Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar rejected the request made by the accused, Umar Hayat, who had challenged the impartiality of the trial judge and demanded a change of venue.
In a significant development, the court confirmed that the trial will proceed under Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majuka. Meanwhile, the trial court continued with hearings, during which the prosecution recorded the testimony of another witness. Public prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani represented the state during the proceedings.
The session was adjourned until April 30 after the defense counsel became unwell during cross-examination, halting further progress in the case for the day.
Sana Yousuf was fatally shot at her home in Islamabad’s Sector G-13 on June 2, 2025. Authorities apprehended the accused in Faisalabad within 20 hours of the incident and recovered the suspected murder weapon. Investigations revealed that the accused had persistently tried to contact the victim and allegedly committed the attack after she rejected his advances. The accused later admitted to the crime in a statement recorded under Section 164.
