FAISALABAD/ISLAMABAD: Authorities have arrested Umar Hayat, the prime suspect in the killing of popular Islamabad-based TikToker Sana Yousuf, following a swift investigation aided by technical evidence and CCTV footage.
The suspect was apprehended from Jaranwala, Faisalabad, and police recovered the murder weapon, a pistol, from his possession.
Sana Yousuf, a 17-year-old social media influencer and first-year MBBS student, was fatally shot inside her home in Islamabad’s Sector G-13 on Monday afternoon.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Sambal Police Station on the complaint of Sana’s mother, an unidentified man forcibly entered the victim’s residence around 5 pm, carrying a pistol and wearing black clothing.
Eyewitnesses, including Sana’s sister-in-law Lateefa Shah who was present at the time, reported that the assailant opened fire on Sana with clear intent to kill. Sana sustained two gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to hospital by neighbours but succumbed to her injuries en route.
Initial investigations have revealed that the suspect held a personal grudge for being rejected for his repeated advances as he was not able to digest the girl’s choice. The police used CCTV footage from multiple cameras in G-13 and Safe City surveillance systems along the Islamabad Expressway to track the suspect’s movements before and after the attack.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended Islamabad Police for their prompt action in arresting the suspect within 20 hours of the incident, describing the operation as commendable.
Umar Hayat was apprehended during a late-night raid in Faisalabad. During initial interrogation, he confessed to the crime. Police officials confirmed that the murder weapon was recovered from his custody.
According to police sources, Umar had parked his motorcycle near Sana’s residence on the day of the attack and fled the scene on it after committing the murder. CCTV footage captured him fleeing on foot, which helped narrow down the search.
Sana’s mother informed investigators that her husband was away at the time of the incident and that her 15-year-old son was visiting their native village in Chitral. The FIR noted that the accused forcibly entered Sana’s room and shot her twice before fleeing.
Following the murder, Sana’s body was transported to Upper Chitral, her native town, for burial. Police have recorded initial statements from family members and continue to probe all aspects of the case.
Authorities have expanded the scope of their investigation, reviewing extensive surveillance footage and employing technical tools to trace the full chain of events leading to the killing. The case remains under active investigation.
