Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Saturday visited the home of murdered Sana Yousuf in Islamabad to express condolences to her grieving family.
Sana, a rising social media influencer, was recently shot dead in a tragic incident that sparked national outrage.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Tarar condemned the brutal killing and emphasized the urgency of introducing laws to regulate platforms like TikTok. “While TikTok offers benefits, it also has drawbacks. These platforms must be used responsibly,” he said.
He added that both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had taken immediate notice of the crime. He praised Islamabad police for swiftly apprehending the suspect just hours after the murder, but stressed that arrest alone is not enough.
Tarar called for a thorough prosecution process, saying, “The legal proceedings must be pursued to the very end.” He also revealed that a special committee has been formed to monitor the trial and ensure that justice is delivered.
The minister also criticized the superficial reactions from some influencers, noting that while many shared tributes online for views and likes, few supported the family or engaged in the judicial process. “Her own community must take this trial seriously. This should be a test case, and the accused must receive the harshest punishment,” he asserted.
Tarar urged civil society and digital influencers to keep the case alive in public discourse and take a stand against such violence.
Sana Yousuf, a 17-year-old content creator from Upper Chitral living in Islamabad’s Sector G13, was shot five times inside her home on June 2. The accused, reportedly obsessed with her, killed her after she repeatedly refused to meet him. He fled the scene but was later arrested in Faisalabad.
Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi described the incident as a tragic and challenging case. Speaking at a press conference, he confirmed the suspect’s motive was unreciprocated infatuation and emphasized that the police handled the case with full professionalism. Sana’s body was moved to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for postmortem examination.
