Authorities moved swiftly following the brutal slaying of Yousaf, arresting the primary suspect the day after the attack. According to the Islamabad Police, the alleged shooter — a 22-year-old man — had made repeated, unwanted attempts to contact Yousaf in the days leading up to her death.

Investigators labeled the crime a tragic result of “repeated rejections,” with the suspect allegedly trying to befriend the teenager and establish a relationship she clearly did not welcome.

Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi described the man as hailing from a lower-middle-income background with “no source of income.” Additionally, he only has a matriculation-level education.

“A beast, cold-blooded murderer is now in the law’s grip,” he declared during a press conference, condemning the suspect’s actions and pointing to a long, disturbing pattern of obsessive behavior.

According to IG Rizvi, the man had tried to reach Yousaf at her home for hours on her birthday, May 29, and returned again on June 2, waiting outside for nearly eight hours before allegedly forcing his way in. “First, it was a cellular rejection. Now, it was a physical mode of rejection,” stated Rizvi.

He then entered the house around 5 p.m., armed with a pistol, and shot Yousaf twice in the chest. Although the 17-year-old was transported to a hospital, she succumbed to her injuries.

Yousaf’s mom, who expressed that the suspect “shot straight at my daughter with the intention to kill,” described the intruder as moderately built, smart in appearance, and dressed in black. She and her sister-in-law, Lateefa Shah, who had been visiting the family for several days, were both present during the shooting and confirmed they could identify the assailant.

Yosaf’s mother also noted that her 15-year-old son was away at their native village in Upper Chitral at the time. Police officials highlighted that the suspect attempted to flee with Yousaf’s mobile phone in a bid to destroy potential digital evidence, but both the device and the weapon used in the killing were later recovered.

The investigation, dubbed a “blind murder” by Rizvi, with initially no clear leads, eventually gained momentum thanks to coordinated efforts across multiple jurisdictions.

Eleen raids were carried out — three in the federal capital and the rest across various cities in Punjab, including several in Faisalabad — to locate and apprehend the suspect.

Rizvi emphasized that the attack had also sparked efforts to mislead authorities by distorting the nature of the crime, but forensic and cyber investigation teams worked tirelessly to preserve evidence and uncover the truth. IG Rizvi went on to praise the joint contributions of seven specialized police teams and the Crime Investigation Agency.

He also acknowledged the valuable assistance provided by journalists and digital media experts, mentioning that “many leads” came through their efforts to analyze social media.

In a broader reflection on the state of online safety, Rizvi asserted the importance of protecting young content creators, urging the public to support individuals, especially women, who pursue digital platforms as a career or form of expression.

“It is necessary to give a clear message,” he said, “that if any of our sister or daughter or youngster is becoming a social media influencer […] we have to encourage it.”

The killing of Yousaf, who had over 1 million followers on TikTok, is not an isolated incident. In January, a man who had recently brought his family back to Quetta from the United States confessed to murdering his 15-year-old daughter due to disapproval of her TikTok presence.

That same month, two young male TikTokers lost their lives in separate firearm accidents in Lahore. Pakistan, home to over 54 million TikTok users, has seen the platform banned repeatedly in recent years — four times in 2021 alone — due to concerns over objectionable content.

While the app remains accessible today, it is under strict moderation guidelines and ongoing government oversight.

He further acknowledged that the murder weapon and Yousaf’s mobile phone had been recovered, affirming what law enforcement had already disclosed. Most notably, Naqvi revealed that the suspect had confessed to the killing.

In a haunting twist of fate, Yousaf’s final Instagram post, shared just hours before her death, offered a glimpse into what should have been a joyful celebration.

The short video montage captures the 17-year-old basking in the warmth of a birthday gathering, smiling beside a pastel pink and white balloon arch as she cuts her candlelit cake, her face lit up with excitement.

She wears a crisp white blouse and chocolate-toned skirt. Later in the video, she stands against a stunning mountain backdrop and shares a laugh and conversation with friends on a rooftop terrace.

The footage then transitions to carefully prepared dishes and cozy restaurant scenes, conveying the unmistakable spirit of someone feeling loved, celebrated, and, for a moment, entirely safe.