The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to transfer the trial of the Sana Yousaf murder case to a different court, ruling that accusations of partiality and misconduct against the presiding judge lack merit.
In a detailed written order issued by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, the court stated that the allegations against the trial court were unfounded and did not warrant a change of venue. The judgment highlighted that repeated requests for adjournments appeared to be attempts to delay justice.
The high court directed that the trial should proceed in the court of the additional sessions judge west, where it is currently being conducted. The ruling also reaffirmed that providing legal representation at the state’s expense is a constitutional right of the accused, ensuring the trial moves forward without undue postponements.
Furthermore, the court expressed concern over the inappropriate language used by the accused in submissions challenging the trial court’s conduct.
In a significant development, the trial of Umar Hayat, the accused in the murder of Sana Yousaf, formally commenced in September 2025 when an Islamabad court framed charges against him. During the hearing, he pleaded not guilty to all accusations, including murder and theft of the victim’s mobile phone, labeling the charges as false and baseless. Police allege that he killed the 17-year-old after she rejected his friendship, although earlier reports claimed he had confessed during interrogation.
In an emotional video message released in June last year, Sana Yousaf’s father, Yousuf Hassan, a social activist and government employee, appealed for justice. He stated he harbors no enmity toward anyone and urged authorities to ensure the truth behind his daughter’s killing is revealed and the perpetrator brought to justice.
Sana Yousaf, a popular social media personality, was murdered earlier this year in an incident police say involved someone she knew personally. Authorities revealed that the suspect fled to Faisalabad after the crime but was arrested following a joint investigation that utilized CCTV footage and technical tracking.
Police also recovered the weapon used in the killing, with multiple investigative teams working on the case before the suspect’s apprehension. Investigators maintain the attack was motivated by the accused’s repeated rejection by the victim.
