A Pakistani court has sentenced a 22-year-old man to death for killing teenage social media influencer Sana Yousaf after she repeatedly turned down his advances.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday in Islamabad, brought an emotional close to a case that sparked outrage across Pakistan and renewed conversations about violence against women.
The convicted man, Umar Hayat, was found guilty of murdering 17-year-old TikTok personality Sana Yousaf at her home last June. Alongside the death sentence, the court also imposed a fine of about $7,200.
Speaking after the verdict, Yousaf’s father described the judgment as justice not only for his daughter but for society at large.
“This verdict is a lesson for anyone who commits such acts,” he told reporters, standing beside Sana’s mother outside the courtroom.
Investigators said Hayat shot the teenager after she repeatedly rejected his attempts to pursue a relationship with her.
Police said surveillance footage captured him fleeing the scene with her phone shortly after the attack.
Yousaf’s mother and paternal aunt reportedly witnessed the killing.
The 22-year-old had initially confessed to the murder before later withdrawing his statement. Under Pakistan’s legal system, he still has the right to challenge the ruling in a higher court.
Yousaf was widely known on TikTok and other social media platforms, where she built a following of millions through videos on fashion, food and skincare. She also spoke openly about relationship challenges, a subject often considered sensitive in Pakistan’s conservative society.
Her death triggered widespread grief online, particularly under a birthday video she posted just days before she was killed.
But alongside condolences came disturbing reactions, with some social media users blaming the teenager for her own death comments that drew anger from rights advocates and the public.
Women’s rights groups and supporters staged demonstrations in Islamabad after the murder, demanding justice and stronger protection for women.
The case revived painful memories of other high-profile attacks on women in Pakistan.
Among them were the 2016 killing of social media star Qandeel Baloch by her brother and the murder of Noor Mukadam in 2021 after she rejected a marriage proposal.
Rights groups say violence against women remains deeply rooted in Pakistan, where attacks linked to rejected relationships continue to surface.
For many young women, TikTok and other platforms have become rare spaces for expression and income in a country where female participation in the formal workforce remains low.
With tears in his eyes, Sana’s father said the ruling carried meaning beyond his family’s pain.
“This is justice not only for Sana, but for society as a whole,” he said.
