ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani court docket charged a person on Saturday with homicide for capturing a teenage social media influencer outdoors her dwelling earlier this 12 months after refusing his supply of friendship.
Decide Mohammad Afzal Majoka within the capital, Islamabad, indicted Umar Hayat for killing 17-year-old Sana Yousuf. Hayat pleaded not responsible.
Hayat, a 22-year-old TikTok content material creator, was arrested in June within the jap metropolis of Faisalabad. Yousuf’s dying drew widespread condemnation.
Decide Majoka requested Hayat if he had killed Yousuf. Hayat replied that he had not. He additionally rejected the allegation that he had stolen her cell phone, a court docket official advised The Related Press. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not approved to speak to the media.
Footage on Pakistan’s personal Samaa TV channel confirmed police main a handcuffed Hayat to the court docket.
Yousuf, initially from the scenic northern area of Chitral, was recognized for selling conventional Chitrali music and gown by her TikTok channel. She additionally advocated for ladies’ training. Hours earlier than her homicide, she had posted a birthday celebration picture with associates.
TikTok enjoys immense reputation in Pakistan as a consequence of its easy-to-use and visually-led format, with tens of tens of millions of customers. But it surely has additionally confronted non permanent bans.
The federal government has suspended the platform a number of instances, citing considerations that the app promotes immoral or illegal content material.
