In a shocking disclosure, Samiya Hijab has come forward with disturbing details of the abuse she suffered in the hands of Hasan Zahid. The Islamabad-based influencer said she once saw him as a close friend, but their relationship soon collapsed into threats, blackmail, and brutal violence.
Hijab explained in an interview that she had known Hasan for only six months when he presented her with a gold ring and asked for marriage. That proposal marked the beginning of their troubled relationship.
Earlier this week, she shared a video on Instagram claiming she was almost abducted. Following her post, the police arrested Hasan.
Hijab recalled that she wanted a few years before deciding on marriage. But Hasan and his family kept pushing her to formalize the relationship. Pressure turned heavier after her close friend, internet personality Sana Yousaf, was killed. That incident left her fearful and distant, but Hasan took her withdrawal as rejection.
According to Hijab, he started demanding marriage through threats. He even told her mother that he would “break her legs” if the wedding did not happen.
The influencer, who has more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and 200,000 on TikTok, described several violent episodes. She said Hasan slapped her repeatedly during a car trip from Lahore to Islamabad until her face was swollen.
Hijab also accused him of trying to abduct her outside her home. He threatened to kill her and warned that he would throw acid on her. She said she had deleted personal content from his phone early in their relationship, fearing misuse. Yet, he allegedly leaked and circulated her private material to blackmail her.
Despite constant threats, Hijab refused to stay silent. “Many women in our country remain quiet out of fear. In the end, they are the ones who lose their lives. I did not want to be one of them,” she said.
She stressed that Hasan remains a danger to her and other women. Even after her police complaint, she said he returned the next day in a black car without plates, holding a pistol, and issued fresh death threats.
Hijab expressed gratitude to Islamabad police for providing her with full security. Still, she urged the courts to deliver an exemplary punishment. “If even one person had been punished earlier, such cases would not keep happening. Men must feel the fear of justice,” she said.
She also shared her dream of creating an organization for women facing abuse and violence. Her goal is to provide victims with safe options before they end up burnt, tortured, or killed by their spouses.
The Samiya Hijab abuse case has sparked debate over women’s safety in Pakistan. Her painful story highlights the urgent need for strict laws, social awareness, and protection for vulnerable women.
