Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar found dead in Karachi flat, believed to have died 9 months back

Pakistani television and film actress Humaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her Karachi apartment this week, with investigators believing she had passed away as far back as October 2024,

Her body, discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, was recovered after her landlord filed a complaint over unpaid rent.

When police entered the premises, they found the apartment abandoned and Humaira’s remains inside. According to Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, the condition of the body indicated it had been there for several months.

Officials now estimate she died nearly nine months ago, with Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza confirming her last phone call was made in October 2024, based on call detail records. Neighbours last reported seeing her around September or October, according to a report by Arab News.

Investigations revealed that her electricity was disconnected in October 2024 due to non-payment of bills. There were no signs of alternative lighting like candles, and jars in the kitchen had rusted, with food items having expired more than six months ago. Police also noted that the apartment’s water pipes were dry and corroded, and a balcony door was left open, potentially explaining why odors weren’t strongly detected by residents.

Compounding the delay in discovery, the only other apartment on her floor was unoccupied, and returning residents only vaguely noticed an odor in February, which had since faded.

Initially, police reported that Humaira’s family declined to claim her body. However, her brother, Naveed Asghar, has now arrived in Karachi to take custody of the remains after DNA verification was carried out due to the body’s decomposed state.

Naveed shared that Humaira had moved to Karachi from Lahore seven years ago, gradually distancing herself from the family. “She hadn’t been home for almost a year-and-a-half,” he said. “That’s why my father said if something happens, she could be buried there in Karachi.” He also raised questions about the landlord, asking if police had interviewed him about the situation.

Humaira Asghar Ali began her acting career in 2015, appearing in supporting roles in popular TV serials such as Just Married, Ehsaan Faramosh, Guru, and Chal Dil Mere. She made her film debut in Jalaibee (2015) and later starred in Love Vaccine (2021).

She gained further public recognition in 2022 after appearing on the reality show Tamasha Ghar aired on ARY Digital. In 2023, she received the Best Emerging Talent & Rising Star award at the National Woman Leadership Awards.