Karachi court orders ‘murder probe’ in Humaira Asghar’s death case

A Karachi court has directed the police to register a case into the alleged murder of model and actress Humaira Asghar, following a petition that claimed she had been killed and demanded that relevant individuals, including her makeup artist, be brought under investigation.

After examining arguments from the petitioner’s counsel as well as the police report, the court ruled that the available record suggested a cognisable offence had been committed.

It ordered police to record statements from Humaira Asghar’s family and the state before proceeding with the case.

Humaira Asghar’s decomposed body was discovered on July 8 inside a flat at Karachi's Ittehad Commercial area. The discovery was made when the landlord, citing non-payment of rent, approached the court, and a bailiff forced open the apartment door.

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The post-mortem report revealed the body was in the final stages of decomposition, indicating that the actress had died nearly eight months earlier.

Investigators disclosed that Humaira had been struggling with financial difficulties, with her last commercial shoot taking place in September 2024. Her professional communications continued into October that year.

Chemical analysis of samples collected from her residence revealed five items containing sea salt, commonly used to suppress odors and deter insects, whereas the salt found in the kitchen was of a different type.

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Authorities believe this detail could provide new leads in the case.

Further inquiries also established that the actress’s phone remained active until October 2024. However, despite repeated calls from her makeup artist, there was no response, and her WhatsApp profile photo had been deleted.

Following the court’s directive, police will now conduct a comprehensive investigation in coordination with Humaira Asghar’s family, with all relevant persons expected to be questioned.