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A court in Pakistan has sentenced a man to death for the murder of a teenage social media influencer.
Umar Hayat broke into the home of 17-year-old Sana Yousaf in June 2025 and shot her dead. The killing sparked national outrage and reignited a widespread debate regarding women's safety and online harassment across the country.
Hayat, 23, confessed to the crime in July last year, admitting he had developed a one-sided obsession with Ms Yousaf following interactions online.
Investigations revealed that Hayat had travelled to Islamabad days before the killing to see the victim for her birthday. When Ms Yousaf refused to meet him, he tracked down her residence, where a confrontation ensued, culminating in her murder.
The court found Hayat guilty, handed him a death sentence and directed him to pay PKR 2.5 million in compensation to the victim's family.
Speaking to the media outside the court, the victim’s father, Syed Yousaf Hassan, welcomed the decision, calling the verdict "a lesson for all such criminals in society".
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