June 4, 2025
🕯️ What Happened:
- Sana Yousaf (17), a popular social media star, was shot dead in her Islamabad home.
- Umar Hayat (22) arrested; confessed to killing her after she rejected his “offers of friendship.”
- He broke in, fired two shots, stole her phone, and fled. Her aunt witnessed the attack.
🔍 Key Details:
- Motive: Hayat repeatedly tried to meet Sana but was rejected.
- Evidence: Murder weapon and Sana’s phone recovered by police.
- Funeral: Buried in her hometown Chitral; family says she never mentioned threats.
💔 Social Media Reaction:
- Outpouring of grief: Sana had 500K Instagram followers; TikTok followers surged to 1M+ after her death.
- Backlash: Some blamed Sana for her online presence, citing “religious grounds.”
- Activists condemn: “Misogynistic rhetoric shows social media is unsafe for women in Pakistan” – Dr. Farzana Bari.
👮 Police Response:
- “Brutal murder caused national concern” – Islamabad Police.
- Scanned 113 CCTV cameras to catch the killer.
- Support for influencers: “Women creators deserve encouragement, not violence” – Police Chief.