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Two days after the discovery of actor and model Humaira Asghar Ali’s body in her Karachi apartment, police have shared preliminary findings, while her death has sparked a wave of grief across Pakistan’s entertainment community.
The 32-year-old actor was found dead on July 8, 2025, inside her fourth-floor apartment in Phase VI of Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), after police broke in under court orders to vacate the premises.
South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed that the door to the apartment in Ittehad Commercial area had to be forced open when repeated knocks went unanswered around 3:15 PM.
The Gizri police, accompanied by a court bailiff, discovered her lifeless body and immediately called in the Crime Scene Unit to collect forensic evidence.
Death likely occurred 8–9 months ago
DIG Raza stated that initial investigations and observations suggested that Humaira may have passed away around September 2024 – nearly nine months prior to her body being found.
Supporting this timeline, police highlighted several details, stated that the packaged food items in the refrigerator, including bread and milk, had expiration dates from September 2024 and call data from two SIM cards found in her phone showed no activity beyond that month.
K-Electric (KE) had reportedly disconnected electricity to the apartment in October 2024 due to non-payment of bills.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, who visited the scene with SSP South Mahzoor Ali, confirmed that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
A post-mortem was conducted later that night, but the cause of death remains “reserved” pending a full chemical analysis report.
While the final determination awaits the medical examiner report, authorities have so far found no signs of forced entry or foul play.
SSP South Mahzoor Ali said the apartment’s main iron gate, wooden door, and even the balcony door were all locked from the inside, suggesting that no one entered or exited during the time of her death.
The investigation team is also examining two mobile phones recovered from the scene and looking into the possibility of a third device, as digital traces from the known devices ended abruptly in October 2024. No suspicious CCTV footage was found in the building.
Living in Isolation, Cut off from family and industry
Humaira Asghar had reportedly been living alone in the rented apartment. Her relationship with her family had become strained over the past two years, according to police.
She had stopped paying rent months ago, prompting the landlord to seek a court-ordered eviction – a step that ultimately led to the discovery of her body.
Family’s response
When police contacted her family in Lahore, her father initially declined to claim the body or travel to Karachi, citing a prolonged estrangement. Later, her brother and brother-in-law arrived in Karachi and contacted police to recieve the body.
Showbiz fraternity reacts to incident
News of Humaira’s tragic end sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s entertainment industry. Many fellow actors and media figures expressed sorrow and outrage over the apparent isolation she experienced.
Actor Sonya Hussyn was one of the first to publicly offer to take responsibility for her final rites, asking authorities to delay the burial in case no family came forward. “If no one shows up, I would like to take on the duty of performing the final rites,” she wrote on Instagram.
Actor Yasir Hussain supported her, commenting, “The industry that caused the deceased’s family to disown her, that same industry is here for her.”
Yashma Gill supported the sentiment, stating she had reached out to authorities to understand the legalities of claiming the body. “If we failed her in life, let us not fail her in death,” she posted.
Career of Humaira Asghar Ali
Humaira Asghar Ali gained national attention with her appearance in the ARY Digital reality show Tamasha Ghar. She also had a supporting role in the 2015 film Jalaibee.
While she maintained a presence in modeling and acting circles for several years, her public visibility had declined in recent times.
Brother arrives Karachi
New details in the case have emerged, as police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Speaking to the media at his office, SSP South Mahzoor Ali confirmed that Humaira’s brother and brother-in-law have arrived in Karachi. Legal formalities are currently underway as the family has expressed a desire to transport the body to Lahore for burial. So far, the family has not raised any suspicions regarding the cause of her death.
According to the police, Humaira typically maintained contact with her family herself, but in recent months, those interactions had stopped. Her relatives, who had grown distant, did not remain in active communication with her during this time.
The apartment building where her body was found consists of two flats on each floor. Police noted that the neighboring flat was unoccupied for months, as the residents were living abroad and only returned in February 2025.
This absence may explain why no one noticed the odor from the decomposing body for several months.
Authorities are continuing to examine forensic evidence, digital data from her devices, and await the final chemical analysis report to determine the exact cause of death.
