The brother of late actress and model Humaira Asghar Ali has spoken out against false media claims that her family refused to take her body after her death.
Humaira’s partially decomposed body was discovered in her rented flat in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Police had entered the apartment to enforce a court-ordered eviction due to unpaid rent.
Officials believe Humaira may have died around six months ago. This estimate is based on expired food items in her fridge and the last activity on her phone — both dating back to September 2024.
Initially, police said that her family in Lahore, especially her father, refused to collect the body for burial. This news shocked the public and members of the entertainment industry. However, a day later, her brother Naveed Asghar reached Karachi to claim her remains and take them to Lahore. Authorities had said the body would be handed over after confirming DNA results.
A medical report by police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that the body was in an advanced state of decomposition and may have been there for at least eight months.
Speaking to the media, Naveed said the body had remained in police custody for investigation purposes, and the family was only contacted after initial procedures were complete.
He explained that the family had been coordinating with rescue service Chhipa and Gizri Police Station over the last few days and were following all official guidelines.
“The condition of her body made it difficult for us to move it at that time,” he said. “Police were also completing legal formalities before handing it over.”
He criticized the media for focusing only on the family while ignoring the larger mystery surrounding Humaira’s death.
He also pointed out that Humaira had been living independently in Karachi for the past seven years and rarely visited home.
“She wouldn’t contact us for months — sometimes even a year,” Naveed said. “Her phone had been switched off for six months, and we couldn’t reach her despite my mother trying to check on her.”
When news broke that her family allegedly refused the body, several people including public officials and celebrities offered to arrange her burial.
The Sindh culture department issued a statement expressing sadness over the situation. Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said that if the family didn’t claim the body, the department would respectfully arrange her funeral, recognizing her contributions to the arts.
Several actors also stepped up. Yashma Gill and Sonya Hussayn were among those who contacted the police to help with funeral arrangements.
The Actors Collective of Pakistan — a group representing artists in the country — released a heartfelt statement saying they would ensure Humaira is buried with dignity.
“In our family, no one is forgotten or left behind. We stand together — in life, in loss, and in remembrance,” the group said.
Also read this: Actor Humaira Asghar Ali May Have Died Months Ago in Karachi Apartment, Say Police
