‘Killed Sana Yousaf for rejecting birthday gifts’, suspect confesses in court

ISLAMABAD: The main suspect in the murder of 17-year-old TikToker Sana Yousaf has confessed to killing her after she refused to meet him and ignored a birthday gift he brought, according to his statement recorded before a judicial magistrate on Tuesday.

On June 4, HUM News English had reported that Umar Hayat alias Kaka confessed during the police custody that he killed Sana Yousaf in a fit of rage as he was deeply upset by her repeated refusals.

Police learnt during the investigations that on Sana Yousuf’s birthday, the accused arrived at her residence in Sector G-13 with gifts and a cake. However, she refused to meet him. On June 2, Umar Hayat again reached her residence around 5 AM and waited for several hours, but was again turned away.

Following the murder, he fled the scene by booking a bike ride, later took a taxi to a bus terminal, and boarded a bus back to Faisalabad.

In his confessional statement under Section 164 before Magistrate Saad Nazir, Umar Hayat narrated almost the same story HUM News English had reported from sources.

The suspect said that it was his first attempt to meet Sana Yousaf. He waited all day but she refused to meet and asked him to leave, the alleged murderer said, adding that he had also brought a birthday gift for her, which she did not accept.

He further revealed that on June 2, he tried once again to meet Sana Yousaf but was turned away again. Upset and angry, Umar claimed he went to her home and fatally shot her.

‘Sana Yousaf murder a test case’

Sana Yousaf, known for her popularity on TikTok, was shot dead in her home in Islamabad on June 2. A case was registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (premeditated murder) at the Sumbal Police Station, based on a complaint by her mother, Farzana Yousaf.

Sana had over 800,000 followers on TikTok and about 500,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly posted content and had a growing fan base.

Her murder sparked outrage online and renewed calls for better safety for women in the digital space. Islamabad Police said they were facing “extreme pressure” for solving this case at earliest.

On Saturday, APP reported that Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, during his visit to the residence of Sana Yousuf, said that her murder should be a test case so that no one can dare commit such a crime in future.

Expressing his condolences to the family, he said the prime minister and interior minister had taken strict notice of the murder of Sana Yousuf.

He said the culprit should get the strictest punishment to make him an example.