Islamabad court sentences Umar Hayat to death in Sana Yousaf murder case

Islamabad (Web Desk): A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday handed down death sentence to Umar Hayat, the main accused, in the murder of 17-year-old social media influencer Sana Yousaf.

Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the reserved verdict, under which the convict was also directed to pay a fine of Rs2 million.

In other charges linked to the case, the court handed Hayat a total of 20 years in prison and imposed fines amounting to Rs2.4 million. This included a 10-year sentence for robbery and another 10-year term for trespassing.

Sana Yousaf, who had amassed over 800,000 followers on TikTok and more than one million across her social media platforms, was known for her lip-sync performances, skincare advice, and promotional content for beauty products. She had turned 17 just a week before she was killed at her home in Islamabad on June 2, 2025.

During the previous hearing on Monday, the accused withdrew his earlier confession, terming the incident a “blind murder” and denying all allegations. He told the court he had no involvement in the crime and claimed he was in Faisalabad at the time of the incident.

He also objected to the investigation, stating that CCTV footage and witness statements were not properly produced before the court.

Hayat further alleged that his confession had been obtained under pressure and said he was deprived of proper legal representation during parts of the investigation.

The accused challenged the identification parade as flawed and inconsistent, claiming he had been falsely implicated due to pressure generated on social media.

He maintained that no voluntary confession was made and insisted that the evidence against him was fabricated.

During the hearing at the district court, prosecutor Naveed Kiayani completed his final arguments and presented a detailed account of the evidence. He informed the court that the prosecution had produced 27 witnesses, along with medical and documentary evidence placed on record. He further stated that the accused was arrested a day after the incident and later underwent identification proceedings.

Medical experts from PIMS testified in court, confirming severe injuries and indicating that the firing was carried out with intent to kill. According to the prosecution, the victim suffered fatal injuries to the heart and lungs caused by gunfire.

The prosecutor added that investigators recovered the victim’s mobile phone, which helped trace the accused’s contact number, while the complainant identified the device as part of the case property.

Call records and chat screenshots were also presented to establish a link between the accused and the crime. He further stated that the accused attempted to dispose of evidence but was ultimately traced through digital and investigative leads.

The court was also informed that the victim’s mother, Farzana Yousaf, stated she was at home during the incident and later witnessed the aftermath.

Eyewitnesses corroborated key elements of the prosecution’s case, including identification of the accused and descriptions of the weapon and clothing.

It was further submitted that the post-mortem examination was conducted late at night and supported the prosecution’s version of events. Both prosecution and defence completed their arguments, with the defence seeking strict punishment and earlier proceedings reflecting similar demands from the complainant’s counsel.

The judge was informed that identification witnesses had not seen any prior images of the accused before the identification process. After hearing all arguments, the court reserved its judgment, which was announced today.

After the verdict, the victim’s family expressed relief and satisfaction over the court’s decision.

Speaking to journalists, the victim’s father said they had waited 11 months for justice and described the ruling as a long-awaited moment of closure. He thanked the legal team and media for their support, adding that the judgment would serve as a warning to others.

The victim’s mother also appreciated the prosecution and lawyers, saying they had presented a strong case and that she felt relieved to have received justice from the court.