KARACHI: Actor and model Humaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her apartment on Tuesday. Police said they discovered the body during a court-ordered eviction in Defence Phase 6’s Ittehad Commercial area.
Officers reached the flat around 3:15 PM. A court-appointed bailiff was with them to vacate the property. When no one answered the door, police broke in. Inside, they found the actor’s body lying on the floor.
Officials believe the body was 15 to 20 days old. It had already started decomposing. Forensic teams collected evidence from the scene. The body was sent to the hospital for a post-mortem.
Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed the body was in a decomposed state. The cause of death will be determined after the autopsy.
A Career in Entertainment and Reality TV
Humaira Asghar Ali started her career as a fashion model. She later moved into acting. She gained attention for her role in the 2015 Pakistani film Jalaibee. However, her most well-known appearance was in the reality TV show Tamasha Ghar.
Tamasha Ghar was the Pakistani version of Bigg Boss. It featured celebrities living together in a house with cameras recording 24/7. Humaira appeared in Season 2 of the show, which aired on ARY Digital in 2023. Although she didn’t win, her time on the show helped her build a following on social media. She had over 100,000 followers on Instagram.
In recent years, her screen presence had reduced. She was not seen in any major projects lately. Her fans followed her updates on social media, but even those posts had stopped appearing in recent months.
She Lived Alone for Years
Humaira had been living in the flat alone for the past seven years. Her work included a role in the film Jalaibee and an appearance on the reality show Tamasha Ghar. But she had kept a low profile in recent years.
Neighbours said she was quiet and avoided interaction. One resident told Geo News she didn’t own a car and often delayed rent payments. The flat owner had filed a case over unpaid dues, which led to the eviction order.
Residents hadn’t seen her for weeks. No one suspected anything was wrong until police arrived to carry out the court’s orders.
So far, no family members have come forward. It remains unclear if she had close relatives in the city.
Another Case of Isolation
Humaira’s death has sparked concern over the isolation of artists in Pakistan. Just three weeks ago, another actress, Ayesha Khan, was found dead in her flat in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Like Humaira, her decomposed body was discovered only after neighbours noticed a bad smell.
Ayesha was 84. She had also been living alone.
These back-to-back tragedies have raised serious questions. Many are asking whether Pakistan’s entertainment industry provides enough support to struggling actors. Without regular work, many fade into poverty and are forgotten.
“There’s no safety net,” said a casting agent. “When the work dries up, people disappear.”
Police haven’t ruled out foul play. But early signs suggest natural death or possible suicide. Investigators are waiting for lab reports to confirm the cause.
Industry Reacts with Shock
News of Humaira’s death shocked many in the film and TV world. While she wasn’t active recently, colleagues remembered her passion for acting.
“She had a quiet strength,” said one former cast member of Tamasha Ghar. “She didn’t give up, even when times were tough.”
Others recalled her as kind and dedicated. Her final Instagram post is now filled with comments from fans expressing grief and disbelief.
Veteran actor Rashid Farooqi called for immediate reforms. “How many actors must die like this before we act?” he said. “We need support systems.”
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