Judge also hands down prison term and financial penalty after high-profile trial draws public attention
ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad court has announced its verdict in the murder case of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf, sentencing the main accused, Umar Hayat, to death after proceedings in a case that attracted significant public attention.
Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka delivered the ruling and also handed the convict an additional 10-year prison sentence. Furthermore, the court imposed a fine of Rs2 million as part of the punishment.
The verdict followed a key development during the trial after Umar Hayat withdrew an earlier confessional statement while testifying before the court. Previously, he had recorded a statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code in which he admitted responsibility for shooting Sana Yousaf.
According to court proceedings, the accused had earlier stated that he developed a one-sided attachment toward Sana after online interactions. He had also claimed that personal emotions and suspicion influenced his actions.
However, during the trial, Umar Hayat retracted that statement, bringing renewed attention to the proceedings and raising further discussion surrounding the case before the court issued its final decision.
Meanwhile, the case remained in the public spotlight because of Sana Yousaf’s young age and her social media presence. The incident generated widespread discussion and prompted strong reactions across different platforms.
Umar Hayat, who was also reportedly active on TikTok and is said to be the son of a retired government official, remained the central figure throughout the proceedings.
The court’s ruling now marks a major development in one of the most closely followed criminal cases in recent months.
