With each delay, it feels as if we are being forgotten, says father.
Zulfiqar Ahmad
ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: The trial of Umar Hayat, the confessed killer of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf, was delayed once again on Wednesday, exposing the crippling dysfunction of Pakistan’s justice system — where delays have become the rule rather than the exception.
The latest postponement — the third in as many hearings — came after the defense lawyer failed to appear in court, throwing an already troubled case into further disarray.
Hayat, who has openly admitted to killing Yousaf, remains in custody, making the case appear straightforward. Yet despite the clarity of facts, the legal process continues to be mired in adjournments and procedural deadlocks, raising serious questions about the system’s ability to deliver timely justice.
At the outset of the hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka expressed his frustration over the repeated delays, calling the situation “inexcusable.” His remarks underscored a rare judicial acknowledgment of the urgency and accountability required in such cases.
However, despite the judge’s warning, the hearing was postponed until November 5, further prolonging the painful wait for justice for Sana Yousaf’s family, who continue to grapple with their loss as the legal process drags on without resolution.
What was once expected to serve as a model of swift and decisive justice now risks becoming yet another casualty of a system that often prioritizes delay over accountability. For Yousaf’s grieving family, the anguish is compounded — the pain of losing a young daughter intensified by the endless wait for justice.
The government’s continued silence on the case has only deepened public disillusionment, as citizens call for swift and transparent proceedings while officials’ inaction signals indifference toward the failures of the judicial system.
For Sana’s father, Syed Yousaf Hassan Shah, the hope for justice persists despite the repeated setbacks. “I pray that justice will be done for my daughter,” he said. “But with each delay, it feels as if we are being forgotten.”
Related:
No Progress In Sana Yousaf Murder Trial.
justice fore Sana yousuf.