Taxila: Pakistani social media influencer Shamso Bibi, popularly known as Ayesha Gilamana, was shot dead in Taxila in Rawalpindi district on August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day. The 28-year-old TikToker had built a following of more than 1.3 million users on the platform.
Bibi was travelling with her younger sister and brother when unidentified attackers on a motorcycle reportedly opened fire on their vehicle. She suffered a gunshot wound to the neck and died at the scene.
Her younger sister, 15-year-old Aseema, was also injured after the vehicle lost control and collided with another car.
According to the complaint filed by Bibi’s father, Fazal Sahibzada, she had received a phone call from a man identified as Kashif, also known as Kashi, shortly before leaving her home. She then travelled with her siblings.
Her brother Niamatullah reportedly told investigators that two men on a motorcycle approached their vehicle and opened fire. The attackers fled after the shooting.
A purported CCTV recording of the incident has also surfaced online, although its authenticity has not been independently established.
Bibi’s family has alleged that the murder could be connected to a financial dispute, though investigators have yet to establish the motive.
Her father alleged that Bibi had financial dealings with two people identified as Kausar and Javed, alias Shaheen. He claimed that she had faced demands for repayment and had received threats before her death.
In comments reported by Arab News, Sahibzada alleged that the two men could have either carried out the attack themselves or arranged for others to kill his daughter in order to gain control of her money. He also alleged that Kashif may have played a role in instigating the attack.
These allegations have not been independently established, and the investigation into the motive remains underway.
Bibi’s brother Rehmatullah also told Arab News that she had allegedly received threats from Kausar and Javed over the financial dispute and had previously filed a complaint against them in Islamabad.
The investigation has since widened, with police looking into individuals who may have helped the alleged attackers.
According to Dawn, a special team of Rawalpindi police investigating the murder detained three suspected facilitators linked to the main accused. The principal suspects, however, were reportedly still at large.
Niamatullah, who was inside the vehicle during the attack, told Voicepk that the family was seeking stronger police action. He appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to intervene and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
Following her death, Bibi’s family deactivated her TikTok account.
Her brother Rehmatullah said the account had amassed more than one million followers and between 30 million and 35 million likes, highlighting the substantial audience she had developed online.
Bibi had become one of several Pakistani women who used social media to build a public profile and potentially generate income through digital content.
Bibi’s killing has also drawn attention to broader concerns surrounding the safety of women with prominent social media profiles in Pakistan.
TikTok has a particularly large user base in the country. According to DataReportal’s Digital 2026: Pakistan report, which cites TikTok's advertising resources, the platform had an estimated 79.9 million users aged 18 and above in Pakistan by late 2025.
For many Pakistani women, social media has opened opportunities to create careers, earn money and reach audiences beyond traditional professional spaces. However, greater visibility can also expose creators to online harassment, threats and unwanted attention.
Bibi’s death has renewed questions about the risks faced by women influencers who maintain a highly visible presence online.
For now, police are investigating the alleged financial dispute, previous threats and the role of the suspects detained in connection with the case. Bibi’s family continues to demand that the people responsible for her killing be identified and prosecuted.
