INTERNATIONAL: Star’s Lonely End: Actress Found Dead After Months in Karachi
Discovery in Karachi Apartment
On July 8, 2025, the decomposed remains of Pakistani actress and model Humaira Asghar Ali were found in her rented apartment in Karachi’s upscale Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase VI. The discovery was made when a court-appointed bailiff, acting on an eviction order for unpaid rent, broke into the locked flat with police assistance.
Estimated Time of Death
Preliminary forensic evidence, including phone records and expired food items, suggests Ali died around October 2024, nearly nine months prior to discovery. The advanced state of decomposition rendered the body nearly unrecognizable, with exposed bones complicating initial examinations.
Isolated Life in Karachi
Ali, originally from Lahore, had lived alone in the Ittehad Commercial apartment for seven years, with minimal contact with her family. Neighbors reported last seeing her in October 2024, and unpaid utility bills led to the disconnection of electricity that month.
Delayed Detection
The absence of residents in an adjacent vacant flat meant no one detected the odor of decomposition for months. By February 2025, when neighbors returned, the smell had dissipated, leaving Ali’s death unnoticed until the bailiff’s visit.
Family’s Reluctance
Initially, Ali’s father, a retired army doctor, and other relatives refused to claim her body, citing estrangement lasting over a year. Her brother-in-law eventually agreed to travel from Lahore to Karachi to take custody after DNA confirmation.
Ongoing Investigation
Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed noted the body’s severe decomposition prevents a definitive cause of death pending histopathological and toxicology results from the University of Karachi’s ICCBS. Authorities are exploring all possibilities, including natural death, suicide, or foul play.
Entertainment Industry Mourns
Ali, who debuted in the 2015 film Jalaibee and gained fame through ARY’s 2022 reality show Tamasha Ghar, was a celebrated figure with over 715,000 Instagram followers. Tributes from peers like Adnan Siddiqui highlight her impact on Pakistan’s entertainment scene.
Social Media and Public Reaction
Posts on X reflect public shock at Ali’s unnoticed death and her family’s initial refusal to claim her remains, sparking debates about societal apathy and isolation. The Sindh Culture Department and Governor Kamran Tessori offered to arrange her burial if needed.