On the evening of June 2, 2025, a shocking crime shook Pakistan’s digital community and made headlines internationally. Seventeen-year-old Sana Yousuf, a rising social media influencer, was brutally murdered in her own home in Islamabad’s G13 sector. The entire incident, including the suspect’s escape, was captured on CCTV.

### The Incident

Sana was at home with her aunt while her mother had stepped out to a nearby market. The main gate was left unlocked, a common practice given the short distance. Unknown to the family, a young man had been hiding in the bushes near their house for several hours, waiting for an opportunity to enter.

The man, later identified as Umar Hayat, entered the house and asked Sana’s aunt about her whereabouts. Mistaking him for a friend of Sana, the aunt pointed him upstairs. Umar called Sana out of her room and, after a brief argument, shot her twice in the chest. He then grabbed her phone and fled the scene, threatening the aunt with his weapon before escaping.

Neighbors and Sana’s mother rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots, but Sana succumbed to her injuries before reaching the hospital.

### Background

Sana Yousuf was a well-known influencer, with over 800,000 followers on TikTok and 5.6 million on Instagram. She was known for her cheerful personality and content on skincare, food, music, and lifestyle, resonating especially with Pakistan’s Gen Z audience. Her father is a government officer in Chitral, while her mother managed her social media accounts.

Umar Hayat, 21, came from a troubled background. He had lost his mother two years prior and lived off his retired father’s pension. Obsessed with projecting a glamorous lifestyle, Umar often rented cars and posed in luxury settings to impress others online. He initially contacted Sana under the guise of brand collaborations, but when she politely declined to meet him, his obsession grew.

### The Motive

Umar’s repeated attempts to meet Sana were rebuffed. Despite her clear refusals and lack of any personal relationship, Umar became increasingly fixated. On Sana’s birthday, May 29, 2025, Umar traveled over 300 kilometers to her home with gifts, only to be turned away by her family. Humiliated, his toxic ego was wounded, and he began plotting revenge.

On June 2, Umar waited outside Sana’s house for hours. When he saw an opportunity, he entered and committed the murder he had planned.

### Investigation and Arrest

The police reviewed footage from 113 CCTV cameras and used digital surveillance to trace Umar’s movements. Within 20 hours, he was arrested in Jaranwala, Faisalabad. He confessed to the crime, citing personal rejection as his motive. Sana’s phone and the murder weapon were recovered from him.

### Social Media Reaction and Broader Issues

The case sparked outrage and debate across Pakistan and beyond. Shockingly, some on social media attempted to justify the murder, reflecting deeply ingrained toxic attitudes towards women and social media personalities. Critics pointed to the harmful influence of certain Pakistani TV dramas that romanticize violence against women and reinforce toxic masculinity.

### A Wake-Up Call

Sana’s tragic death is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by women in the public eye and the urgent need for societal change. The case has become a wake-up call for the entertainment industry, educators, and society at large to address and challenge harmful narratives and behaviors.

Justice for Sana Yousuf is now a rallying cry for many, as her family and supporters demand the harshest punishment for her killer. The hope remains that her story will lead to greater awareness, responsibility, and change.