Four Arrested in the Murder of a Popular Pakistani TikToker, Suspense Remains Over the Motive Behind Crime
Islamabad: Police have so far arrested four suspects in the murder case of 28-year-old popular Pakistani TikTok creator Ayesha Gilamana (Shamso Bibi). Among those arrested are two people who allegedly helped the main shooter evade arrest.
Shamso Bibi was shot dead on the evening of August 14th in Taxila, an industrial city about 30 kilometers from Islamabad. She had over 1.3 million TikTok followers. The TikTok platform is very popular in Pakistan.
Shamso Bibi used to make videos about simple life in her village in a desi style and spoke in a rural dialect, which people liked. After Shamso's death, her family deactivated her account. She was also on YouTube, where she had approximately 176,000 subscribers.
Shamso Bibi's father, Fazal Sahibzada, said in his police complaint that his daughter received a call from a man named Kashif, also known as "Kashi," who asked her to leave her home in Taxila.
Shamso was leaving her car with her sister and brother when two men on a motorcycle opened fire near a fuel station. A bullet struck Shamso in the neck, killing her instantly, while her 15-year-old sister, who was seriously injured, was rushed to the hospital.
Pakistan’s TikTok killings: Influencer Shamso Bibi shot dead as violence raises alarm
— Business Today (@business_today) August 20, 2026
Watch: https://t.co/TwCRRems6F | #ShamshoBibi #Pakistan #TikTok #Islamabad #WomensSafety pic.twitter.com/qCgCXNhb3e
A CCTV video circulating on social media shows two men on a motorcycle stopping Shamso Bibi's car and then pulling out a pistol and firing at the car from close range. According to media reports, the family has filed a complaint against some individuals (Kausar and Javed) over a financial dispute and an old dispute.
Shamso's brother, Niamatullah, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to intervene in the matter and ensure justice.
