Killing of Sana Yousaf

Sana Yousaf
ثنا یوسف
Born	(2008-05-29)29 May 2008 Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
Died	2 June 2025(2025-06-02) (aged 17) G-13/1, Islamabad
Cause of death	Gunshot
Resting place	Chuinj, Upper Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Known for	Social media influencer
Father	Syed Yousaf Hasan

Sana Yousaf (Urdu: ثنا یوسف; 29 May 2008 – 2 June 2025) was a Pakistani social media personality, known for her content on Instagram. By mid-2025, she had a half-million followers and had become especially popular among Pakistani youth.

Sana Yousaf used her social media presence to promote Chitrali culture and advocate for girls' education, often posting content that highlighted traditional clothing and the importance of female empowerment. According to her father, Syed Yousaf Hasan (who is a social worker hailing from Upper Chitral), she aspired to pursue a career in medicine with the aim of serving the people of Pakistan.

On 2 June 2025, she was fatally shot at her home in Sector G-13/1, Islamabad, Pakistan. At the time of her death, she was a second-year student who had just turned 17. The case received nationwide media attention and sparked widespread outrage on social media platforms.

Death

Killing of Sana Yousaf

Date	June 2, 2025 (2025-06-02)
Location	G-13/1 sector, Islamabad, Pakistan
Target	Sana Yousaf
Perpetrator	Umar Hayat

On 2 June 2025, a 22-year-old man named Umar Hayat reportedly entered Sana Yousaf's residence in the G-13/1 sector of Islamabad, armed with a pistol, and after a confrontation, fatally shot her twice in the chest.

At the time, her father was away from home and her younger brother was in Chitral. Yousaf's paternal aunt, who was present in the house at the time of the incident, initially mistook the sound of gunfire for a balloon popping due to the muffled noise. Hayat then attempted to shoot her as well, but the gun failed to discharge, after which he fled the scene.

In the aftermath of the shooting, as Hayat fled the scene, Yousaf's paternal aunt, initially unaware that Sana had been shot and was lying injured in her room, rushed outside in a state of panic to alert the neighbors. It was only after some moments that she realized Sana had been shot. The neighbors then helped place Sana into a car; however, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after, before she could be transported for medical assistance. Her mother was also present at the scene and was reportedly calling for help for Sana following the shooting. After her death was confirmed, her body was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where an autopsy was conducted. She was buried in her ancestoral village, Chuinj in Upper Chitral.

Hayat was arrested in Faisalabad shortly after the incident. During interrogation, he confessed to murdering Sana. Authorities said his motive for the killing was that she had rejected his "offers of friendship" and his attempts to meet her, but her family said she had never mentioned him or talked about noticing any threatening behaviour. Hayat was transferred to Adiala Jail on a 14-day judicial remand to facilitate an identification parade. The court directed that the identification process be completed and a report submitted by 18 June 2025. On 13 June 2025, Sana Yousaf’s mother and aunt identified Hayat during an identification parade conducted at Adiala Jail.

On July 8, 2025, the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights took up the murder case of Sana Yousaf and the Swat incident. The session was also attended by Sana Yousaf’s parents, who had been specially invited, as well as Senator Falak Naz.

Reaction

The killing of Sana Yousaf sparked widespread outrage across Pakistan and attracted international media coverage. On social media, users expressed grief, anger, and called for justice, while the incident reignited discussions about violence against women and the safety of public figures in digital spaces.

On 5 June 2025, Aurat March Islamabad organised a protest outside the National Press Club to demand justice for Sana Yousaf. The demonstration attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, working women, domestic workers, and other concerned citizens. Protesters carried banners with slogans such as "Saying No is My Right" and "Those who kill in the name of honour are the greatest dishonourable", emphasizing women's rights and condemning gender-based violence. The protest called for the government, police, and judiciary to take immediate and strict action against the accused and to implement measures to protect women and deter similar crimes in the future.

See also

• Arfa Karim
• Iqbal Masih
• Murder of Noor Mukadam