- Hayat sentenced to a total of 21 years in prison and fined 2.5 million rupees.
- The victim’s father claims that the sentence was handed down in accordance with justice.
- The victim’s mother praises the lawyers for presenting “a strong case.”
ISLAMABAD: A local court in the federal capital has awarded death sentence to the main accused, Umar Hayat, in the murder case of social media influencer Sana Yousaf.
Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the reserved judgment, also imposing a fine of Rs2 million on the convict, according to the judgment.
In a short two-page order, Judge Majoka also imposed fines on Hayat on several charges.
According to the verdict, the convict was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 200,000 under Section 392.
The court further sentenced the convict to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 200,000 under Section 499, while another year’s imprisonment and Rs 100,000 fine was imposed under Section 411.
In total, the court sentenced Hayat to a cumulative prison term of 21 years as well as fines amounting to 2.5 million rupees.
Yousaf had more than 800,000 followers on TikTok, a popular platform in Pakistan, where she posted lip-syncing videos, skincare tips, and promotional content for beauty products.
Sana, who turned 17 a week before her death and had over a million followers on her social media accounts, was killed at her home in Islamabad on June 2, 2025.
At the previous hearing, held on Monday, accused Hayat recanted his earlier confession, calling the case a “indiscriminate murder” and denying all allegations.
He told the court that he had no connection with the incident and claimed that he was in Faisalabad at the time of the murder.
The accused also alleged flaws in the investigation, saying CCTV footage and witnesses were not properly presented in court.
He further claimed that his confession was obtained under pressure and that he did not have adequate legal representation during parts of the investigation.
Hayat also challenged the identification procedure, calling it unfair and inconsistent, and alleged that he was falsely implicated due to pressure from social media.
The accused maintained that he never confessed to the murder and that all the evidence against him was fabricated.
“Justice done”
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, the victim’s father, Yousaf, welcomed the judgment, saying the judiciary handed down the sentence in accordance with justice.
“We have been waiting for this day for 11 months. This day has finally arrived,” he said, thanking lawyers and the media for their support.
“This decision is not only for us, but for the entire society. It is a lesson that if someone commits [such a heinous act]this will be the end of them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother also praised the lawyers for presenting “a strong case”, saying she was “happy to get justice from a Pakistani court”.
Call recordings, screenshots submitted
During today’s hearing in District Court, Prosecutor Naveed Kiayani concluded his closing arguments and detailed the evidence presented during the trial.
He said the prosecution presented 27 witnesses in court and filed medical and other documentary evidence.
The prosecutor said the accused was arrested the day after the incident and subsequently subjected to an identification procedure.
He said PIMS doctors also testified, with medical reports confirming serious injuries and indicating the shooting was carried out with intent to kill.
According to the prosecution, the victim suffered fatal injuries to the heart and lungs from the gunshots.
He further told the court that the investigating officer recovered the victim’s mobile phone from which the accused’s number was traced, while the deceased’s father identified the phone from the case property.
The prosecution also said that call recordings and chat screenshots linked the accused to the case, and the judge ordered that the recovered cellphone be presented in court.
It was further contended that the accused attempted to get rid of the evidence and was traced through digital and investigative leads.
The prosecutor also read the statement of the victim’s mother, Farzana Yousaf, stating that she had stayed at home at the time of the incident and later witnessed the crime unfold.
Eyewitnesses, he added, confirmed key details, including the identification of the accused and descriptions of the weapon and clothing.
The court was told that the autopsy began late at night and confirmed the version of events presented by the prosecution.
The defense lawyer reiterated his arguments in favor of the death penalty, while previous proceedings included requests for harsh sanctions from the plaintiff’s lawyer.
The court also heard that the identification witnesses had not seen any images of the accused before the identification process.
The judge was informed that the prosecution had finished its arguments, after which the verdict was reserved.
