A man accused of shooting dead a 17-year-old TikTok star at her home in Pakistan after she had repeatedly rejected his advances was formally indicted on Saturday, a journalist in court saw.
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Sana Yousaf’s murder in June drew nationwide condemnation and reignited debate over women’s safety, after some online comments – alongside condolences – blamed her for her own death.
The 22-year-old accused, Umar Hayat, pleaded not guilty in Islamabad’s district court on Saturday.
“All the allegations made against me are baseless and false,” the accused told Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka.
Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media accounts, including TikTok, where she shared videos of her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional outfits.
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TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels.