TikToker Samiya Hijab’s alleged kidnapper remanded in police custody

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday handed over Hassan Zahid, who allegedly attempted to kidnap TikToker Samiya Hijab, to police on a five-day physical remand.

Islamabad police on Monday arrested the man for allegedly harassing and attempting to abduct Samiya Hijab, hours after she posted a video alleging the abduction attempt outside her home.

According to police sources, Shalimar police arrested the suspect during a raid.

According to police sources, Shalimar police arrested the suspect during a raid.

An FIR of the incident had already been registered at Shalimar Police Station, the sources said.

The suspect had been stalking Samiya Hijab for several months and on August 31 at around 6:30 pm, he allegedly attempted to forcibly take her away in a car in Islamabad.

Earlier, Samiya Hijab had sought protection from Islamabad police, alleging that she is being harassed and threatened by a Lahore resident after rejecting his marriage proposal.

In a video message on X, she accused Hassan Zahid of following her for the past three months. She said he recently appeared at her Islamabad residence, rang the doorbell, and allegedly snatched her mobile phone before fleeing.

She said the man asked her to accompany him and, when she refused, he pushed her into a car in an attempt to kidnap her.

According to her, her ill mother was at home while her brother was away when the incident occurred. She said that if she is harmed or killed, the man should be held responsible.

Hijab said she did not want to “become another Sana Yousuf,” referring to the young woman who was shot dead in Islamabad’s G-13 sector on June 2 after refusing a marriage proposal.

She said that Islamabad police responded to her complaint, visited her residence and assured her of protection. She has appealed to the inspector general of police for further security.

According to sources, the suspect was a close friend of Samiya Hijab. He had reportedly gifted her a mobile phone worth around Rs600,000.

After their relationship ended, disputes arose between the two. Some reports also suggested that the girl had long kept the young man under pressure, and the quarrel eventually escalated.

In her another statement submitted to police, Samiya Hijab said that after she had registered a FIR against Hassan Zahid at the Shalimar Police Station, around 10:45 am on September 1, while she was travelling with a relative near F-11 Service Road, a black double-cabin vehicle intercepted her.

From the vehicle, she said, Hassan Zahid, armed with a pistol, and two accomplices stepped out. Waving the weapon, Zahid allegedly threatened her, saying she must withdraw her FIR and declare that it had been filed by mistake. He warned that if she failed to comply, she would be killed and her body dumped.

Hijab said she was already terrified from the earlier incident, so she was forced to give a statement under duress.

She claimed Zahid allegedly recorded her coerced statement on his mobile phone. Before leaving, the suspects snatched her purse containing important documents and Rs45,000 in cash.

She further said she could identify Zahid’s two accomplices if produced before her. Hijab urged legal action against Zahid and his associates.