Pakistani actress and model Humaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her Karachi apartment on July 8, 2025, nearly nine months after investigators believe she actually died. The 32-year-old’s decomposed body was discovered when a court-appointed bailiff executed an eviction order over unpaid rent and broke open the door to her fourth-floor apartment in the upscale Defence Phase VI area.
Police evidence suggests Ali died in late 2024, with her last digital activity recorded in October 2024. According to Deputy Inspector General South Asad Raza, the expiry dates of food and drinks in her refrigerator dated back to September 2024, while her last outgoing and incoming phone activity occurred in October 2024. Both SIM cards in her phone had been inactive since that time, and electricity to the apartment was disconnected around the same period due to non-payment of bills.
The investigation revealed Ali’s final communications occurred in early October 2024. Her last WhatsApp message was seen on October 7, 2024, while a message sent by her stylist, Danish Maqsood, on October 20 remained unread. Her final Instagram post was made on September 30, 2024, and her last Facebook post was dated September 11, 2024. The last text message on her phone came from a ride-hailing service.
The apartment adjacent to Ali’s had been unoccupied until February 2025, which explains why no neighbors reported any unusual odors. Police found expired food containers, rusted jars, and dry water pipes inside the apartment, with no candles or alternate power sources present. The balcony door had been left open, and by the time new neighbors moved in, any smell had faded.
Post-mortem examination revealed disturbing details about the condition of Ali’s remains. The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition.
The exact cause of death remains undetermined due to the extensive decomposition. Medical authorities have reserved their opinion pending further toxicology and DNA analysis results. Hair strands, clothing, and blood samples have been sent for chemical analysis to provide additional insights into the circumstances of her death.
In a significant development, a citizen named Shahzaib Sohail filed a petition in Karachi’s City Court alleging that Ali was murdered. The petition requests the inclusion of her family in the inquiry and cites video evidence from the scene along with her strained family relationships. The court has directed police to treat the matter as a potential criminal case.
Police have formed a six-member special investigation team headed by SP Clifton Imran Jakhrani to explore all possible scenarios, including natural causes, suicide, accident, or murder. Investigators successfully unlocked three mobile phones and a tablet belonging to Ali using passwords found in her personal diary. A laptop was also recovered, though access remains pending. Authorities are reviewing chat logs and digital footprints while conducting a forensic audit of her bank accounts.
The investigation has expanded to include statements from individuals associated with Ali’s daily routine. Police have questioned two people and summoned the apartment building’s watchman and cleaning staff. They are also gathering information from her gym trainer and beauty salon staff to reconstruct her final months.
Ali’s family situation has complicated the case further. Her father, Dr. Asghar Ali, a retired army doctor, refused to claim her body, with authorities indicating that “Her father declined to take custody.” Her brother also refused to claim the remains. Family members stated they had severed all ties with Ali over the past two years. Eventually, her brother-in-law agreed to take responsibility and travel from Lahore to Karachi for the burial arrangements.
Several members of the entertainment industry and the Sindh Culture Department offered to take responsibility for Ali’s burial if her brother-in-law had not claimed the body. She was ultimately buried on Friday evening in the Model Town Q Block graveyard in Lahore.
Following her death, a voice message Ali sent to her close friend Dureshehwar has gone viral on social media. In the message, recorded in September 2024, Ali expressed happiness about her friend’s pilgrimage to Mecca and asked for prayers for her career and personal well-being. The message has added emotional weight to the circumstances surrounding her death.
Ali was known for her work in Pakistani television dramas and films, including appearances in the reality TV series “Tamasha Ghar” and the film “Jalaibee.” She had been a prominent figure in Pakistan’s social media and entertainment circles, with a strong following on TikTok and Instagram. Despite her curated online presence as a glamorous influencer, she had become increasingly isolated in recent years and had been living alone for the past seven years.
The case bears similarities to another recent incident involving 84-year-old actress Ayesha Khan, who was also found dead in her Karachi apartment days after her passing. Khan had also been living alone at the time of her death.
