Sana Yousuf Marder case

 The murder of 17-year-old Pakistani TikToker Sana Yousuf in Islamabad took place on June 2, 2025, which shocked the entire country. Sana, who hailed from Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was at her home in Sector G-13/1 of Islamabad when her cousin Omar Hayat, popularly known as “Kaka”, shot her dead. 

Incident details

According to the police, Omar Hayat came to Sana’s house and met her. Sana asked her to leave and promised to bring water, but in the meantime, Omar fired two bullets at her from close range, which hit her in the chest, and she died on the spot. Her body was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for post-mortem. 

Accused arrested

Islamabad Police investigated with the help of CCTV footage and mobile data and arrested Omar Hayat from Faisalabad within 20 hours.  He admitted that he was angry at Sana’s repeated denials. The police recovered the weapon used in the incident, the accused’s clothes and Sana’s mobile phone. 

Background of Sana Yousaf

Sana Yousaf gained popularity on social media at a young age. She has over 740,000 followers on TikTok and nearly 500,000 followers on Instagram. She was known for her content highlighting women’s rights, the importance of education and the culture of Chitral. Her father, Yousaf Hassan, is a social activist, whose activities influenced Sana’s views. 

Public reaction

Sana’s murder sparked a wave of outrage across the country. #JusticeForSanaYousaf trended on social media, and users demanded strict action against women’s safety and honor killings. The Islamabad police’s swift action was praised, while the chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women called the incident a symbol of violence against women. 

 This incident raises important questions about the safety of women in Pakistan, especially those active on social media, and highlights the need for a change in societal attitudes.