How clues in the fridge helped uncover a Pakistani actor’s death

Pakistani actor Humaira Asghar Ali is believed to have died months ago, according to digital and forensic evidence, after her decomposed body was found this week in her apartment in Karachi.

Police discovered the 32-year-old’s remains in an apartment in the city’s upscale Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 6 area after a court bailiff arrived to vacate the rented property following a complaint by the landlord.

Initially, investigators believed the body had been there for about 10 days. But further inspection of the apartment told a different story.

Packaged food items in the refrigerator, including yogurt and milk, had expiration dates from October 2024.

Local shopkeepers told police they last saw Ali several months ago. The final electric bill was paid in October, and her last known phone call — to a cab driver — was made in September. Her social media activity also ended around the same time.

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Police officials said the body was decomposed beyond recognition, adding that even her knee joints — which typically take a long time to degrade — had deteriorated.

Authorities say no family members have yet come forward to claim her remains.

Conversation on loneliness

Ali’s death has sparked national discussion about isolation and mental health. Many online expressed heartbreak and concern over how long her death went unnoticed.

“Heartbreaking: Humaira Asghar's body lay undiscovered for weeks in her flat, with no one to check on her,” one user wrote on X. “No matter how lonely you feel, keep at least one friend, relative, or neighbor who cares and would notice if you disappeared.”

Another wrote, “I couldn't sleep as I was thinking about Humaira Asghar and so many other girls like her, who follow their heart and pave their own way in order to fulfill their dreams.”

Asghar rose to fame as a contestant on the reality TV show Tamasha and appeared in several dramas including Chal Dil Mera, Laali, and Benaam. She also made a cameo in the film Love Guru.

Members of the entertainment industry expressed condolences and reflected on the challenges within the profession.

“The industry often looks glamorous from the outside, but navigating it can be deeply challenging,” model and actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak wrote in a social media post.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.

Murder allegations surface amid legal push for investigation

The case has now taken a dramatic turn. A Karachi resident, Shahzaib Sohail, has filed a formal request at City Court, alleging that Ali’s death was not natural but a case of murder. In his petition, he urged the court to register an FIR and initiate a full investigation.

According to the plea, the video of the scene raised serious doubts and suggested possible foul play. The petitioner also pointed out the actor’s influential status in the media industry and expressed concern that no one had come forward from her family -- which, he argued, was itself suspicious.

The application named SSP South and the SHO of Gizri Police Station as respondents, and requested the court to include Humaira’s family in the investigation and pursue all legally available avenues to uncover the truth.

Additional reporting by Faisal Khan