ISLAMABAD: In a quick breakthrough, the police have arrested the suspected killer of 17-year-old social media influencer Sana Yousuf within 20 hours of the tragic incident that sent shockwaves across the country.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, announced the arrest during a press conference at Rescue 15 on Tuesday. He was joined by senior officials, including DIG Islamabad Muhammad Jawad Tariq, SSP (Investigations), SSP (Operations) and DSP CIA.
Islamabad IGP detailed the intensive investigation that followed brutal murder of the teenager in her house. Under the supervision of DIG, seven specialised teams were formed to lead the probe. These teams employed advanced techniques, combed through over 300 phone records, scrutinised social media activity and analysed surveillance footage from Safe City Islamabad and private security cameras.
The accused, identified as 22-year-old Umar Hayat, was apprehended from Faisalabad.
According to police, Umar, who is currently unemployed, had made persistent attempts to contact Sana. After repeated rejections, he allegedly carried out the fatal attack in a fit of rage.
Investigators recovered both the murder weapon and the victim’s mobile phone from his possession. It is believed he took the phone in an attempt to destroy evidence.
“The brutal murder of a young girl was not only tragic but posed a significant investigative challenge”, said IGP Rizvi. “Our teams worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served. The case sparked widespread concern, and we were under immense pressure to deliver results swiftly and effectively”, he told media. Rizvi emphasised police remain committed to delivering justice and will build a strong case backed by solid evidence to ensure the accused faces the full weight of the law.
The incident has ignited conversations on digital safety and the growing vulnerabilities faced by young influencers. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Ali Nasir Rizvi said Umar Hayat is a matriculate and his father is a retired government employee of Grade-16. Umar is a resident of Faisalabad.
The Islamabad IG said Sana Yousaf’s murder is a tragic incident. “The brutal killing of any daughter is a challenge for the police”, he said. Islamabad police handled the case with a very professional approach, he added. On June 2, at 5pm. the accused shot the girl five times inside her house. Rizvi said 11 raids, including three in Islamabad, two in Faisalabad and one in Jaranwala, were conducted to arrest the accused. “Identifying and finding the accused was extremely important”, he remarked.
Meanwhile, according to initial investigations the victim and the suspect had been reportedly in contact over social media for nearly six months. Umar Hayat had traveled to Islamabad on May 29 -- Sana Yousaf’s birthday -- but failed to meet her after waiting for five hours. He then returned on June 2 and waited near her residence for over 14 hours before fatally shooting her after she declined to meet again.Police reports indicate that the suspect rented a Toyota Fortuner upon arriving in Islamabad and parked it in a street adjacent to the victim’s house. On the afternoon of June 2, Umar gained access to the home through an unlocked entrance -- reportedly left open by a downstairs tenant family. At the time, Sana’s mother was at the market, her father was away, and her younger brother was in Chitral. Only her aunt was home with her.
According to the aunt’s preliminary statement, she overheard Sana pleading with the intruder. However, the suspect fired two bullets into her chest, killing her on the spot. He then took the victim’s mobile phone, fled the house, rode a motorbike to where the rented vehicle was parked, and drove to Chungi No. 26 before boarding a bus to Faisalabad. He was eventually traced to his home in Jaranwala, where he was arrested.
AFP adds: Sana had more than 800,000 followers on TikTok, where she posted lip-sync videos, skincare tips, and promotional content for beauty products. The last video posted on her account was hours before her murder, in which she was seen cutting a cake for her birthday. Some comments under social media posts sharing the news of Sana’s murder suggested it was justified because of her social media career, in a society where honour codes restrict how women should behave. “You reap what you sow,” said one comment.
Women’s rights activist Nighat Dad such reactions embolden abusers to “silence women who dare to be visible”. “The vile comments under news of Sana´s murder aren´t just hateful noise, they´re part of a mindset that normalizes violence against women in Pakistan,” she posted online.
