Authorities in Islamabad, Pakistan, have taken into custody a man charged with the murder of 17-year-old social media star Sana Yousaf.
Yousaf, who boasted a large following on TikTok and Instagram, was fatally shot at her residence on Monday, marking yet another disturbing case of suspected femicide in the country.
What transpired with Sana Yousaf?
As reported by local outlets, Yousaf was shot at her home in Islamabad around 5pm local time (12:00 GMT), based on a police report from her mother, Farzana Yousaf, obtained by Dawn, a Pakistani news organization.
The report indicated that Yousaf was shot twice in the chest and was later taken to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
Who was Sana Yousaf?
Sana Yousaf was a social media influencer, originally from Chitral, a city located about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Islamabad.
As of Wednesday, she had garnered 1.1 million followers on TikTok, often posting videos of herself lip-syncing to music. Her final video featured a montage celebrating her birthday alongside friends.
On Tuesday, she was laid to rest in her ancestral graveyard in the Chuinj village of Chitral, according to Dawn.
What information do we have about the suspect?
On Tuesday, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, the inspector general of police in Islamabad, announced at a press conference that a suspect had been apprehended in Faisalabad, a city about 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of the capital, within 20 hours of Yousaf’s murder.
“The suspect is a 22-year-old unemployed individual who made repeated efforts to contact Yousaf. Following her rejection, he committed murder,” stated Rizvi.
He further noted that the suspect attempted to take Yousaf’s phone to “erase evidence,” but police managed to recover both her phone and the firearm used in the crime.
Dawn, citing unnamed sources close to the inquiry, reported that Yousaf and the suspect had been acquainted for about a year. The suspect had visited Islamabad between May 28 and 29 to wish her well for her birthday, but they did not meet for undisclosed reasons.
The two communicated by phone and arranged to meet on June 2. When the suspect arrived at Yousaf’s house, she did not come outside. Nevertheless, he managed to enter, leading to an argument that escalated into her murder.
At the time of the incident, Yousaf’s parents were not home, but her aunt was present.
What responses have there been to Yousaf’s murder?
The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), a body created to assess government policies related to women, has called for an extensive investigation into the incident.
“We will not permit this case to be obscured by societal stigma, false notions of honor, or procedural failures. This tragic crime underlines the susceptibility of women and girls, even within their homes. We seek justice for Sana and her family, and expect the state to hold offenders accountable,” stated NCSW chairperson Ume Laila Azhar.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi corroborated the suspect’s arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “The police have recovered the pistol and the deceased girl’s iPhone, and the suspect has admitted to the murder,” he wrote. Al Jazeera has not independently verified whether the suspect has confessed to the crime.
Well Done Islamabad Police. Sana Yousaf murder case traced, accused arrested and weapon recovered within 20 hours.
The incident occurred yesterday in Islamabad when a young girl was murdered by a masked assailant. The accused was apprehended just an hour ago. Police has… pic.twitter.com/jmQx9xAlhm
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) June 3, 2025
Aurat March, a feminist organization that organizes the largest annual women’s march across several Pakistani cities, released a statement on Tuesday, saying “We, the Aurat March chapters nationwide, demand justice for Sana, a 17-year-old girl and TikToker who lost her life to patriarchal violence.”
“Patriarchy feels most threatened when women and gender minorities gain visibility and voice, challenging static norms. In retaliation, it resorts to violence, the ultimate means to silence and control.”
“Such is the case with Sana, who was murdered at home by a man who could not accept her rejection. This was not happenstance; it was a deliberate attack on a minor girl’s privacy and safety by someone who believed he could escape consequences.”
This is exactly what happened to Sana who was killed inside her own home by a violent man who couldn’t take no for an answer. This wasn’t a random hit, this was a planned attack where a minor girl’s privacy and home were invaded by a man who thought he would get away with it. pic.twitter.com/aUOrJL3koE
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) June 3, 2025
Actress Mahira Khan also shared her thoughts on Instagram, expressing her horror over Yousaf’s murder with the caption: “Disgusted to the core.”
How frequent are incidents like this in Pakistan?
There have been numerous cases in recent years where young women have faced violence at the hands of men they are familiar with. Many of these women also had a prominent presence on social media channels like TikTok.
“Sana Yousaf’s murder reflects a disturbing trend of ongoing violence against women in Pakistan, especially against those who assert their independence,” Nighat Dad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, a non-profit organization, expressed to Al Jazeera. “These are not random acts; they are connected by a culture that punishes women for being visible and independent.”
“The underlying issue is rooted in fragile masculinity and deep-seated misogyny. When young women establish boundaries or reject advances, it can injure male pride, particularly in a society that fosters men’s entitlement over women’s autonomy and choices. When such entitlement goes unchecked by law or societal norms, it can become fatal,” Dad added.
On January 28, a man named Anwar ul-Haq was charged with murder after confessing to shooting his 14-year-old daughter, Hira Anwar, in Quetta, claiming he found her TikTok videos “objectionable.” Hira had been sharing videos prior to moving back to Pakistan with her family.
In October 2024, law enforcement in Karachi reported the arrest of a man who murdered four female relatives. The victims, aged 60, 21, 20, 20, and 12, were discovered with fatal neck injuries in different rooms of their residence.
In 2022, a 29-year-old Pakistani American woman, Sania Khan, was fatally shot by her ex-husband, Raheel Ahmad, in Chicago after sharing her divorce experience on TikTok. Upon arrival at the scene, police found Ahmad, 36, had turned the gun on himself.
One of the most notable murder cases of a Pakistani woman occurred in 2016, when social media personality Qandeel Baloch was killed by her brother at the age of 26.
“Women who are visible online, especially those who challenge societal norms or defy traditional standards, face heightened risks of abuse and threats,” Dad pointed out. “The backlash extends beyond digital spaces; it manifests physically. When social media platforms do not act against hate and harassment, they foster a culture where violence is a consequence of women simply daring to be seen and heard.”
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 346 women lost their lives in the name of “honor” in 2024, an increase from 324 in 2023. However, this figure likely excludes cases like Yousaf’s, where the alleged perpetrator is not a family member and the murder follows a rejection of advances.
In July 2021, Noor Mukadam, 27, was murdered in Islamabad by Zahir Jaffer, a known acquaintance of her family. In 2022, Jaffer was sentenced to death for Mukadam’s rape, murder, and decapitation, a ruling that was upheld by Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week.
“We need systemic reform. The state must recognize online misogyny and gender-based violence as intertwined threats rather than separate issues,” emphasized Dad. “When a woman says no and a man reacts with violence, it is not heartbreak; it is abuse.”
