By: Waniya Kabir Ahmad
Another bright face, another grave. Another denial, another bullet. And us? Just silent spectator’s.
The increasing number of violent crimes against women in Pakistan has become a tragedy that society has come to accept as “normal.” Every few months, a new name, a new face, and the same old story—the woman said “no,” and the man took her life to protect his ego.
This article not only highlights the tragic murder of Sana Yousaf but also provides a glimpse into other famous cases that have exposed the inner truth of Pakistani society.
Sana Yousaf (2025): The Bullet of Rejection Seventeen-year-old Sana Yousaf, a resident of Chitral, was a playful, confident and popular TikToker. Her content was humorous, which brought joy to thousands of young people. But no one could have imagined that her life would end so tragically. A boy named Omar Hayat, who was constantly trying to befriend Sana, reached her house with a pistol upon her refusal and killed her with two shots.
The killer said: “Her refusal was unbearable for me.” That is, a girl’s “no” became so dangerous to a man’s ego that it was deemed necessary to kill her.
That is, a girl’s “no” became so dangerous to a man’s ego that it was considered necessary to kill her. Qandeel Baloch (2016): The Shamelessness of Honor Qandeel Baloch, Pakistan’s first “digital celebrity”, who gave a new dimension to the independent identity of a woman through social media. Qandeel learned to live outside of tradition, learned to speak, and asserted herself.
But when they step outside the traditional boundaries, it is not acceptable to step outside them. Their brother killed them in the name of “honor”. The court has given the verdict, there was an uproar on social media, but this is the truth: Qandeel’s murder, not just hers, but the murder of a woman’s self.
Noor Muqaddam (2021): The Wolf of the Aristocracy Noor Muqaddam, the daughter of a former ambassador, an educated and respectable young woman, was held hostage in her home by her “friend” Zahir Jafar, tortured and ultimately murdered and beheaded. The incident took place in a big city like Islamabad, at the hands of a boy from an influential family. Zahir Jafar’s parents tried to save her, but after public pressure on social media, she was punished.
This case was a weak victory for justice against the powerful, but it is important to remember: Not every light-bearer finds light, many are buried in darkness.
Sabeen Mahmood (2015): The Price of Thought A Karachi activist, Sabeen Mahmood, was assassinated as she returned home from a human rights talk. Sabeen’s mistake? She was simply asking questions. She was saying “dangerous” things—freedom, reason, thought.
Her murder made it clear that if a woman asks a question, silencing her is considered sufficient. Khadija Siddiqui (2016): Wounded on the threshold of justice Law student Khadija Siddiqui was stabbed 23 times by her classmate in broad daylight. Khadija survived, but society did not spare her. She faced questions about her character, delays in the courts, and severe psychological torture.
Khadija’s case teaches us that even a survivor does not have an easy life. Silence, the real killer These five faces, Sana, Qandeel, Noor, Sabeen and Khadija, are not just individuals, but symbols of the social poison that exists in every home, every street, and every institution.
These are not just murder cases, they are scars on our collective conscience. Let us not consider these names as mere hashtags or banners. These are the truths that we blindly consider ourselves safe from.
But the next Sana might be from your house. The next Qandeel might be your friend. The next Noor, maybe your daughter. Sana Yousef just said “no.” But in our society, a woman’s rejection becomes an insult to a man— And insult is treated with a bullet. We all know this, but are afraid to say it: A murderer is not just someone who stabs or shoots, a murderer is also someone who remains silent.
In the end I have just one Question for you, ( Why always man? ) Criminal.
