Pakistani Court Indicts Man for Teen TikTok Influencer's Murder Amid National Outcry

A Pakistani court indicted 22-year-old Umar Hayat for the murder of 17-year-old TikTok influencer Sana Yousuf, who was shot outside her home after rejecting his friendship advances. Hayat pleaded not guilty, denying the allegations including theft of Yousuf's mobile phone. Yousuf, popular for promoting traditional Chitrali culture and girls' education on TikTok, had amassed over a million followers. Her killing sparked nationwide condemnation and intensified debates on women's safety in Pakistan, where violence against women, especially after rejecting marriage proposals, is a pervasive issue. Some online comments controversially blamed Yousuf for her death, reflecting societal honor code pressures. TikTok remains widely used in Pakistan, providing women with rare economic opportunities despite government concerns about content morality.