Pakistani actor Humaira Asghar Ali, who was found dead in her Karachi apartment on Tuesday, is believed to have died in October 2024, as per a recent report by Arab News. Humaira’s body was found in a “very advanced stage of decomposition”, as per Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, who conducted the post-mortem, and now investigators have suggested that as per her call records, her phone was last used in October. There had no been social media activity from her account since September last year. The post-mortem report previously suggested that she had been dead for at least a month.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza told the publication, “As per Call Detail Record (CDR) the last call was made in October 2024.” The same report suggested that her neighbours had last seen her in the months of September-October.
Two officials spoke to the publication and one of them shared that her electricity was disconnected in October 2024 over non-payment of bill, and there was no other power source inside the house. “Humaira’s body is likely nine months old. She probably died between paying her last utility bills and when her electricity was disconnected in October 2024, probably due to non-payment of the bill,” they said and added that there were no candles in the house.
Another police official shared that the food in her house had expired months ago. “The jars had rusted, and food had expired six months ago,” they shared and added that the only other apartment on her floor was vacant, so the odour did not alert any neighbours. When the neighbours returned in February, the odour had subsided. One of the balcony doors in her house was also open. The pipes supplying water in the house were dry and rusted.
Earlier, the police had said that the family of the actor refused to claim the body, however, now, her brother Naveed Asghar, has reached Karachi to claim her body. Before handing over the remains, the officials conducted a DNA test as the body was in a highly decomposed state, and was beyond recognition. “We have come here and after fulfilling all the legal requirements, have received the dead body,” he shared.
Naveed shared that his sister moved to Karachi from Lahore around seven years ago and had distanced herself from the family, and would only visit once in many months. In the recent past, she had not been home in a year and a half.
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He said that they were “shocked” when they found about Humaira, and the persistent calls from the media. “That is why my father said that if there is any emergency, then you can bury her there [in Karachi],” he said. He also questioned the reporters if they had interviewed the landlord. He asked, “Whatever matters took place with the landlord, did any of you interview him?”
Humaira’s body was found after her landlord filed a complaint for non-payment of rent. When the police officials broke open the door, they found her remains.
