Pakistani actor and model Humaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her apartment in Karachi’s upscale Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase VI on Tuesday, July 8. The 32-year-old was reportedly discovered in a severely decomposed state, with investigators estimating that she had died nearly three weeks prior. However, what has stunned many even more than her untimely and lonely death is the reaction of her family.
According to multiple media reports, after police traced her brother through phone records and contacted her father, Dr. Asghar Ali, a retired army doctor, allegedly said, “We have cut off ties with her long ago. Do whatever you want with her body. We will not receive it.”
With no immediate family stepping forward, the Sindh culture department has now offered to take responsibility for her funeral and burial. Actors Yashma Gill and Sonya Hussyn have also reportedly come forward to assist with her final rites, expressing grief and support amid the circumstances.
Police discovered Humaira’s body after her landlord filed for eviction due to months of unpaid rent and repeated failed attempts to contact her. Following court orders, the Gizri police visited her apartment around 3:15 pm on Tuesday. When the door was forced open, officers discovered that the flat had been locked from the inside, where Humaira’s body was found.
The door to the balcony was also locked from within, leading authorities to initially rule out foul play. Although homicide is not suspected at this stage, police have said they will wait for the postmortem report to confirm the exact cause of death.
Humaira was reportedly living alone and had become increasingly withdrawn from public life in recent months. According to those close to her, she had been facing personal challenges and had not paid her rent for several months, which prompted legal action by her landlord.
Police say they will make one final effort to convince the family to claim her remains. If that fails, Humaira’s body will be declared heirless and buried accordingly by the authorities.
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