Islamabad, May 18, 2026: The alleged killer of Islamabad-based Chitrali social media star Sana Yousaf has retracted his previous confession, claiming that the Islamabad police wrongly implicated him in the case.
Umar Hayat, who is also a TikToker, made this statement while testifying before the trial court in Islamabad on Monday.
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Last year, Hayat had confessed under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that he shot Sana, admitting that jealousy and suspicion drove him to commit the crime after developing an obsessive fixation on her through online interactions. On Monday, however, Hayat maintained under Section 342 of the CrPC that he was falsely accused.
Section 342 of the CrPC allows a trial court to question an accused regarding incriminating evidence, providing an opportunity to explain circumstances before presenting a defense.
Public prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani attended the court session, while the accused repeatedly declined to answer questions in the absence of his lawyer.
At the start of the proceedings, Hayat refused to disclose his age. Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka asked whether he had listened to testimonies recorded during the trial, but Hayat said he would not answer without legal counsel.
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The judge noted that a lawyer was not necessary for statements under Section 342, as it involves direct interaction between the court and the accused. Despite repeated questions about renting a car, visiting Sana’s house, and the murder itself, Hayat refused to respond until his lawyer arrived.
Once his defense counsel was present, Hayat recorded a detailed statement denying all allegations. He stated that he was 23 years old and had no connection to the case, denying that he had rented any vehicle or traveled to Islamabad on June 2.
He claimed the alleged rental documents were forged, and that no CCTV footage or location data placed him at the scene. He denied taking Sana’s mobile phone, calling the robbery angle fabricated, and highlighted errors in addresses, references to KRL Hospital and inconsistencies in witness statements. He alleged that he was arrested on mere suspicion, filmed in police custody, tortured and forced to sign blank pages.
During the proceedings, a video was allegedly recorded inside the courtroom, prompting Judge Majoka to demand that the mobile phone be handed over and the footage deleted, warning that it would amount to misconduct if it went viral. The defense counsel objected, arguing that the court could not seize his phone.
Sana Yousaf, 17, had more than a million followers on TikTok and shared videos of cafés, skincare routines and traditional outfits. Her murder in June 2025 led to nationwide outrage and renewed debates over women’s safety in Pakistan.
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In his earlier confession under Section 164 CrPC, Hayat had admitted that he traveled from Jaranwala to Islamabad on May 28 to wish Sana a happy birthday. After she refused to meet, he returned on June 2 in a rented Toyota Fortuner carrying a 30-bore pistol, forced entry into her G-13 residence, shot her in front of her mother and maternal aunt, and took her mobile phone to erase their conversations.
At the time, he expressed remorse and insisted that the confession was voluntary and not made under pressure.