Karachi police have confirmed that no toxic or poisonous substances were found in the body of 42-year-old actress Humaira Asghar Ali, whose decomposed remains were discovered last week—nine months after her death.
Originally from Lahore, Humaira had been living alone for nearly seven years in a rented apartment in Karachi’s Ittehad Commercial area, pursuing a career in acting. Her body was discovered on July 8 when a court-appointed bailiff entered the apartment to execute a notice for unpaid rent.
Senior Superintendent of Police Mahroz Ali said that chemical analysis conducted by the Industrial Analytical Center at the University of Karachi’s HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry revealed no traces of sedatives, narcotics, psychotropic substances, or toxins in the samples collected from the body.
Forensic analysis of her hair, lungs, and liver similarly found no signs of poisoning or toxic exposure.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza noted that investigators believe she likely passed away between the evening of October 7 and early morning of October 8, 2024. However, the advanced decomposition of the body has hindered a definitive determination of the cause of death.
“We are considering four possibilities: natural causes, accidental death, suicide, or homicide,” Raza said. “So far, evidence suggests natural or accidental death is more likely.”
The room where her body was discovered served as both an art studio and a passage to the bathroom. Investigators suspect she may have slipped while doing laundry, as a tub filled with wet clothes was found nearby.
“There were no fractures, no bleeding, and no signs of a struggle,” Raza added. “Typically, cases involving foul play show signs of resistance—but we found none.”
