A 22-year-old man has been charged in Pakistan in connection with the June murder of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf, who had reportedly rejected his advances.
Umar Hayat, who is also a TikTok user and the son of a former public servant, pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in an Islamabad district court on Saturday. "All the allegations made against me are baseless and false," Hayat told the judge. Authorities, however, stated at the time of his arrest that they believed Hayat murdered Yousaf at her home in Islamabad. They allege he broke into her residence, fired two shots, stole her phone, and fled.
Yousaf, who had amassed a significant following on social media platforms, including half a million followers on Instagram before her death, gained hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers posthumously, now exceeding two million. Her social media channels featured content about cafes, skincare products, and traditional outfits. Her final Instagram post showed her celebrating her birthday.
The murder sparked widespread condemnation and ignited a debate about the role and treatment of women on social media in Pakistan. TikTok holds considerable popularity in the country, providing a platform for many women to find an audience and income, which is notable in a nation where fewer than a quarter of women participate in the formal economy.