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The gruesome murder of 17-year-old social media influencer Sana Yousaf in Islamabad has sent shockwaves across the country, with people condemning the incident and calling for swift justice.

The teenager, who recently celebrated her birthday, was gunned down in front of her mother and aunt by an unidentified man who fled the scene, according to an FIR.

Sana was well-known for her social media activities, with nearly 800,000 followers on her TikTok account and almost 500,000 on her Instagram account.

The Islamabad Police said on Tuesday they had arrested the main suspect in the murder case. Addressing a press conference, Islamabad IG Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the culprit was a 22-year-old man arrested from Faisalabad and termed it a case of “repeated rejections”.

“A beast, cold-blooded murderer is now in the law’s grip,” IG Rizvi announced, adding that the man had tried to contact Sana repeatedly and was being “rejected by her again and again”.

Sana’s murder sparked nationwide concern, with celebrities condemning the incident en masse on social media.

Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan, taking to her Instagram, wrote that she couldn’t stop thinking about Sana, a “17-year-old, beautiful girl” who had “just blown out candles, made wishes, maybe danced a little”.

“And then… in seconds… gone. Shot dead. Over a bloody no. But is it really about one moment? One second? One word?”

Mahira maintained that the system was to blame because men were raised to believe that they were owed things such as attention, affection, and obedience.

“The way we fail, again and again, to protect the girls who dare to have a voice, a choice. This didn’t happen in a vacuum. It happened in a society that quietly allows it.”

Sajal Aly

Sajal Aly questioned what kind of world we were living in as she called for justice.

“The lack of empathy is terrifying. I just hope we as a society learn to feel, truly feel for others. To respect boundaries. To value life.”

Aly hoped that people would grow in empathy, understanding, and basic humanity.

Mawra Hocane

Mawra Hocane called the incident heartbreaking, adding that Sana’s case was another story that would be forgotten in a few days when a new story took over.

“We’ve failed as a society and as humans. I see no return from this point. I hear victim blaming. I hear how a woman should’ve behaved to evade this, it’s all of us. We’ve contributed to men not being able to hear a no!”

Hocane said that Pakistani content still romanticised forced relationships, toxic love, and dominating male behaviour. Her comment comes days after a scene in Mann Mast Malang showed a husband tying up his wife to prevent her from leaving him and depicted it to be ‘romantic’.

“Well, this is the impact. A 17-year-old was killed because a boy thought it okay to do so when rejected.”

The actor hoped and prayed that the authorities would make an example out of the perpetrator.

Durefishan Saleem

In a post on her Instagram, Durefishan Saleem wrote, “I’ve witnessed too many men unravel when a woman says no — their love twisting into anger, their respect turning into entitlement.”

She continued that Yousuf was recently murdered for simply refusing someone, and “this heartbreaking reality exposed how dangerously toxic and broken our patriarchal society is — one that teaches men to control, not respect.”

Saleem emphasised that women’s lives mattered. “They are not objects to be owned, silenced, or discarded when they say no. No one should live in fear of violence for asserting their basic rights.”

The actor said that feminism wasn’t about hating men or insisting women do everything alone. “It’s a movement demanding equality, dignity and safety – a world where women can live freely and fully.”

Adnan Siddiqui

Adnan Siddiqui posted the word ‘No’ to his Instagram with a detailed caption, writing that the news hit him with a weight he wasn’t prepared for and that it took him time to process what happened to Sana.

“As a father to two young daughters and a teenage boy, it’s impossible not to see this tragedy through the lens of my own children’s futures. A 17-year-old girl, full of life, with a world ahead of her, silenced in an act so brutal, so senseless, it isn’t easy to comprehend.”

Siddiqui said that he felt not just extreme sadness but simmering anger about what happened, calling it the outcome of wounded pride and of a fragile male ego that turned rejection into rage.

“A girl said no. A boy couldn’t accept it. And that refusal to take a boundary turned into a gruesome killing. We must stop pretending this is rare or unpredictable. It’s the natural end of a mindset that teaches boys their worth lies in dominance, and that rejection is something to correct rather than respect.”

Addressing fellow parents, especially those raising sons, Siddiqui highlighted that they had a responsibility that went beyond academics and achievements.

“We need to raise emotionally intelligent boys who know how to handle disappointment, who understand that ‘no’ is a full sentence, and who never confuse control with love. The safety of our daughters and the dignity of our sons depend on what we teach them now.”

Osman Khalid Butt

Osman Khalid Butt called for the prosecution of Umar Hayat, the primary suspect in the case, without delay.

“No loopholes, no leniency. All eyes on our law enforcement. All eyes on the courts.”

Saba Qamar

Saba Qamar said Sana was silenced by a world that keeps failing its girls.

“She was only 17, a child with dreams, laughter, and light. Not just a daughter or a sister, but a soul that had just begun to bloom and now she’s gone. Taken by cruelty.”

The actor said that the murder wasn’t merely a loss; it was a wound to our humanity. She added that we owed Sana more than tears. “We owe her justice and we owe every girl a world where she can live without fear.”

Sehar Khan

Sehar Khan shared a broken heart emoji and said, “She said NO. And he broke into her house and killed her. That’s it. That’s the reality.”

The actor said girls weren’t safe, not outside, not online, not even in their own homes and that this incident wasn’t about just one girl, it was about every girl who dared to live freely.

“I’m numb, I’m angry, I’m scared. What kind of world are we living in, where saying ‘no’ costs you your life?”

Sehar said that justice was not enough, and that change and protection were needed in addition to listening before it was too late.

“Rest in power, little one. Your voice won’t fade. Not this time.”

Asim Azhar

“A little girl lost her life for not saying yes. So, so, so angry and frustrated at a part our society that sadly still exists,” singer Asim Azhar wrote on Instagram.

He begged parents to work on their boys becoming good men, and prayed for Sana’s soul and her family.

Ayesha Omar

Ayesha Omar called the incident shattering and heartbreaking, adding that she had no words for the heinous act.

“She was just a teenager protecting herself from a stalker. Her repeated ‘no’ led to cold-blooded murder.’

The actor prayed for Sana’s soul to rest in peace and hoped for strength for her family and loved ones.

Zara Tareen

Actor Zara Tareen, in an Instagram post, wrote, “I will become a hashtag again this time. I will trend for two to three weeks. I will take the credit for the crime someone else openly committed. I will become a hashtag again this time.”

In her caption, Tareen wrote that there was yet another hashtag, highlighting how many cases of violence against women there are in the country.

Zhalay Sarhadi

“A light extinguished because she wasn’t in accordance with what others thought she should be,” Zhalay Sarhadi wrote.

She said that the murder was a tragic and senseless loss of a young life full of promises. The actor hoped that action would be taken soon against the perpetrators.

Naimal Khawar Khan

“A 17-year-old girl, Sana Yousaf, was shot in the capital of Pakistan. How many more daughters must we lose before women are safe here?” Naimal Khawar questioned on X (formerly Twitter).

“When will just existing stop being a risk for us?! Sana didn’t deserve this. No woman does! May justice prevail.”

Mohib Mirza

“When a woman’s voice is silenced by violence, it’s not just a life lost — it’s a mirror shattered for all of society,” Mohib Mirza wrote on Instagram.

Yasir Jaswal

Singer Yasir Jaswal urged people to raise their sons better and prayed for patience for Sana’s parents.

“I hope they at least get to see justice for their daughter.”

Bilal Ashraf

“Heartbreaking. May Allah bless her soul,” Bilal Ashraf wrote on Instagram. The actor said justice must prevail and prayed for Sana and her family.