ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad has sentenced Umar Hayat, the accused in the murder case of TikToker Sana Yousaf, to death and imposed a fine of Rs2.4 million after finding him guilty of the crime.
The verdict was announced by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, who had earlier reserved the decision in the high-profile case.
According to the court order, the prosecution successfully proved the charges against the accused, leading the court to award the death penalty. In addition to the capital punishment, the court also sentenced Umar Hayat to a combined 30 years in prison under multiple charges.
The accused received separate 10-year prison terms under three different sections of the law, including charges related to robbery and unlawful entry into the victim’s residence.
During the hearing, prosecutors presented call records and screenshots of chats allegedly linked to the accused as part of the evidence.
The counsel representing the complainant requested the court to award two death sentences to the accused, arguing that the nature of the crime warranted the maximum punishment.
Meanwhile, the defense lawyer argued that the accused had previously expressed a lack of confidence in the state counsel and the trial court. The lawyer informed the court that two petitions were already pending before the Islamabad High Court.
The defense further claimed that the accused should be guaranteed a fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution and argued that personal bias should not influence judicial proceedings.
During the arguments, the defense lawyer also urged the court not to decide the case under pressure from public opinion, NGOs, or social debate surrounding violence against women.
At one point, Judge Afzal Majoka expressed displeasure over the remarks made by the defense counsel and instructed him not to mislead the court.
A day earlier, Umar Hayat had denied the charges during his statement before the court. He claimed that he had neither confessed to the murder nor made any disclosure regarding the incident.
The accused also stated that he had no contact with Sana Yousaf. However, during the proceedings, the judge questioned him regarding a phone number saved under the name “Kaka” in the victim’s phone, which, according to forensic analysis, allegedly belonged to him.
In response, the accused said he would not answer the question without his lawyer present.
TikToker Sana Yousaf was murdered at her residence in Islamabad on June 2, 2025. The accused, Umar Hayat, was arrested the following day from Jaranwala after a police investigation.
