Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi on Tuesday called the murder of social media influencer Sana Yousaf a “deeply disturbing” incident and a case that the police took on as a serious challenge to resolve with full dedication.
At a press conference, IGP Rizvi disclosed that 17-year-old Sana Yousaf, who had gained significant popularity on TikTok, was fatally shot five times inside her residence at around 5 PM on June 2.
He stated, “The murder of any daughter is a matter of grave concern. The Islamabad Police treated this case with utmost seriousness and handled it with professionalism.”
To investigate the case, seven dedicated teams were formed immediately. The police reviewed footage from 113 CCTV cameras, examined over 300 phone records, and analyzed Sana’s social media interactions to uncover leads.
As part of the investigation, 11 raids were conducted in various cities, including three in Islamabad, two in Faisalabad, and one in Jaranwala. These efforts eventually led to the arrest of the main suspect.
IGP Rizvi revealed that the arrested suspect, Umar Hayat, is a matric-pass individual whose father is a retired Grade-16 government employee. Police recovered both the murder weapon and Sana’s mobile phone.
According to authorities, the crime was driven by unreciprocated infatuation. “The suspect persistently attempted to befriend Sana Yousaf, but she consistently turned him down,” Rizvi explained.
Earlier the same day, the police apprehended Umar Hayat in Faisalabad. During the initial interrogation, he reportedly confessed to the murder.
Investigators traced him using a combination of CCTV footage, mobile location tracking, and other technical evidence. The pistol used in the crime was also found in his possession.
Police revealed that Umar and Sana had been in contact for some time, and that the murder appeared to be premeditated. On the day of the attack, Umar allegedly parked his motorcycle near Sana’s residence in Islamabad’s G-13 sector and escaped on it after the shooting.
CCTV footage captured Umar fleeing on foot, which proved crucial in narrowing down the investigation.
