WEBDESK: Karachi court has directed police to register a murder case in the mysterious death of actress and model Humaira Asghar, saying the circumstances are suspicious and need full investigation.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) issued the order on 18 August 2025, after a petition filed by the family’s lawyer, Advocate Shahzaib Sohail. The court said there were enough grounds to proceed under criminal law, and instructed police to record statements of her family and close contacts.
The decision marks a turning point, shifting the case from an unattended death to a possible homicide investigation.
Suspicious evidence in Humaira Asghar’s case
Humaira’s decomposed body was discovered on 8 July 2025 in her DHA Phase VI flat in Karachi. Police entered the apartment with a court bailiff after months of unpaid rent.
Forensic teams found blood traces in the bathroom and bedroom. They also recovered sea salt spread around the room, believed to have been used to suppress odour. Police also seized three mobile phones, a tablet and a diary.
The post mortem, led by Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, was inconclusive because of decomposition, but samples were preserved for chemical and DNA tests.
The digital trail
Perhaps most troubling are Humaira’s last digital activities. Investigators confirmed she was using her phone until 7 October 2024, when she tried to contact 14 people, including a well-known Islamabad-based TV director. None of her calls or messages were answered.
After that date, her WhatsApp activity stopped. Her profile photo was deleted and messages from contacts, including her make-up artist, went unread. Police believe this was a sign that someone tampered with her digital presence.
Advocate Sohail told the court: “Her last digital footprint is a cry for help. Someone deliberately erased her presence, and we want those responsible brought to justice.”
The petition also asked the court to summon Humaira’s make up artist, who was often in contact with her before her disappearance but had his phone switched off during crucial days. Her brother and other close associates are also expected to be questioned.
Police earlier said they would only file a case if clear proof of foul play emerged. The court overruled this stance, stressing that the evidence blood, sea salt, and the digital gaps was enough to justify a murder investigation.
Humaira Asghar case:
Humaira Asghar Ali, 32, was once a familiar face in modelling and supporting TV drama roles. She had also built a social media following. But her career slowed after 2023, and her last known commercial project was in September 2024.
She had been living alone in her DHA flat for more than seven years and was reportedly facing financial hardship. Her absence only came to light when her landlord initiated legal action over unpaid rent.
The family’s initial delay in claiming the body also raised questions. Reports said her father declined, with a brother in law later travelling from Lahore to collect it. Her mother has since demanded justice, telling reporters: “We believe our daughter was murdered. She didn’t deserve to be forgotten.”
Humaira Asghar’s case Investigation continues
DIG South Karachi Asad Raza said the police are now focusing on forensic testing of the blood samples, diary notes, digital footprints and last financial transactions.
They are also contacting the 14 people Humaira attempted to reach on 7 October 2024. One WhatsApp message from stylist Danish Maqsood, sent on 20 October, still shows as unread evidence police say could help establish the time of her death.
With her apartment sealed and evidence under review, police say the case is now in a critical phase. If foul play is proven, criminal charges are expected to follow swiftly.
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