Pakistan Court Sentences Man to Death for Murder of Teen TikTok Star

A court in Islamabad sentenced a man to death for the murder of a teenage social media influencer, a case that ignited nationwide outrage.

Umar Hayat, 23, broke into the home of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf in June last year and shot her dead after she repeatedly rejected his advances, authorities said.

Hayat admitted to the crime in July, stating he had developed an obsessive fixation on Yousaf following online interactions.

Yousaf’s father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, described the verdict as “a lesson for all such criminals in society,” local media reported.

The court also ordered Hayat to pay 2.5 million rupees ($9,000; £6,700) in compensation to Yousaf’s family.

During the investigation, Hayat revealed he had traveled to Islamabad days before the killing to wish Yousaf a happy birthday. Despite her refusal to meet, he went to her home, where an argument escalated into the fatal shooting, according to Pakistani media.

Before her death, Yousaf had over one million followers on TikTok and half a million on Instagram. She was popular for light-hearted content including fashion try-ons, lip-syncing, and socializing with friends.

Activists said Yousaf’s murder reflects a broader pattern of violence against women in Pakistan.

Police conducted raids across Islamabad, where Yousaf lived with her family, and in Punjab province, reviewing footage from 113 CCTV cameras.

While many expressed outrage over Yousaf’s killing, some backlash targeted her work as an influencer.

Usama Khilji, director of digital rights group Bolo Bhi, told the BBC that the criticism came from a small group of mostly male internet users, some citing religious reasons.

“They’re asking why she was putting up all this content, and even suggesting the family should take down her Instagram and TikTok accounts because they add to her ‘sins’,” Khilji said.

Prominent human rights activist Farzana Bari called the reaction “misogynistic” and “patriarchal.”

Bari said Yousaf had her “own voice” and noted that the online discourse shows social media has become a “very threatening place for female content creators” in Pakistan.

Additional reporting by BBC Urdu.