Pakistani model Humaira Asghar was missing for months, but nobody looking for her says ‘a lot’

Pakistani television and film actress Umaira Asghar Ali was found dead in her Karachi apartment earlier this week during a police visit to enforce a court-ordered eviction.

Authorities believe she had been deceased for some time, perhaps months, though the exact timeline will be confirmed through a chemical autopsy.

The case has sparked widespread grief and concern across Pakistan’s entertainment industry. Police reports suggest that some of her immediate family members, including her father, declined to claim her body, reports The Dawn.

In response, several actors and the Sindh culture department have offered to ensure she receives a dignified burial.

The interest in her case is understandable, given the death of a public figure shrouded in mystery. Her minute-by-minute updates for the media and public to speculate says a lot about us .

It also raised questions about urban isolation and the plight of individuals who drift away from public and family. People suspected for months that Ali was missing but did not mention going to the authorities.

Some even turned her death into a cautionary tale for women to keep in touch with their family and friends.

Taking to X, Pakistani actor Osman Khalid Butt wrote: “I don’t even know what to say anymore. Feels like we’re walking in circles. I get it: engagement is currency. Contrarian opinions aimed to provoke, framing grief and rage for clicks are the new economy. But can we please pause for a second and bring back basic empathy?” adding that: “Empathy when you speak about a woman who died far too young. Empathy when you speak about a newlywed who was brutally raped by her husband. These are real women, not just hashtags, remember that. Their stories deserve dignity.”

“Stop turning people’s real trauma into content. Stop projecting your morality onto someone who’s not here to defend herself. Stop the speculation and the judgment, and the deflection. For God’s sake, just stop.”

People have been posting lectures online ad nauseam, and actor Zara Tareen urged people to practice before they preach.

“Everyone lecturing everybody else on checking on people, colleagues and friends, start with your own families and close ones… Stop the social media quote regurgitating. Go call some people and make amends. This isn’t a moment to look righteous and enlightened.”

Humaira was found dead in her Karachi apartment this week, with investigators believing she had passed away as far back as October 2024.

Her body, discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, was recovered after her landlord filed a complaint over unpaid rent.

Officials now estimate she died nearly nine months ago, with Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza confirming her last phone call was made in October 2024, based on call detail records. Neighbours last reported seeing her around September or October.

Investigations revealed that her electricity was disconnected in October 2024 due to non-payment of bills. There were no signs of alternative lighting like candles, and jars in the kitchen had rusted, with food items having expired more than six months ago. Police also noted that the apartment's water pipes were dry and corroded, and a balcony door was left open, potentially explaining why odors weren’t strongly detected by residents.

She gained further public recognition in 2022 after appearing on the reality show Tamasha Ghar aired on ARY Digital. In 2023, she received the Best Emerging Talent and Rising Star award at the National Woman Leadership Awards.