Karachi: The decomposed body of actress and influencer Humera Asghar, discovered inside her Karachi apartment last week, had been lying undiscovered for an estimated eight to ten months, according to a post-mortem report conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi.
The medical report, signed by Dr. Bakhtawar Khan, Woman Medico-Legal Officer at JPMC, confirms that the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition, with most of the soft tissues, internal organs, and even cartilage completely disintegrated. The corpse was mummified, with facial features no longer recognizable and much of the musculature entirely lost.
Humera’s remains were recovered from her apartment wrapped in a plastic sheet, reportedly after neighbors alerted authorities to a persistent foul smell. She was brought to the mortuary on July 7, 2025, by police officials from Gizri, and later identified based on circumstantial evidence. A sample of her bone and teeth has been sent for DNA testing to confirm identity.
According to the postmortem examination, the facial musculature was gone, and the teeth were loose in their sockets while skin was hard and dry, consistent with mummification. The thoracic region was entirely devoid of muscles, although silicone breast implants were present, indicating previous cosmetic surgery.
Long bones were porous and disintegrating, and joints were hyper-mobile due to the absence of cartilage. All internal organs had turned into an unidentifiable blackish mass, and even the uterus and pelvic contents were reduced to powdery remains.
The per-vaginal and per-anal examination showed no signs of injury or foreign body, but the pelvic region had also completely lost its musculature. A black cotton pad and blackish material were found in the undergarments, but it was not clear whether these were linked to trauma, medical conditions, or decomposition.
Doctors recorded the presence of small brown insects, particularly in the hair, but no maggots, suggesting the body had undergone dry decomposition rather than moist decay, which aligns with the mummified condition.
Internally, the brain, spinal cord, thyroid, trachea, and other soft tissues were either absent or disintegrated, and a deep black mass replaced the heart and abdominal contents. The spinal column was intact but the cord itself was missing.
The report notes that the time between death and postmortem was approximately 8 to 10 months, but the exact cause of death remains undetermined. Multiple samples—including bone, hair, and internal residues—were retained and sent to the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi for toxicology and histopathology.
A final medical opinion has been reserved until chemical and DNA reports are received, the autopsy report said.
Humera Asghar, known for her appearances in drama serials and online videos, had reportedly been living alone. Her death, unnoticed for nearly a year, has shocked many in the entertainment industry and raised troubling questions about urban isolation and the welfare of individuals living alone.
Police officials say they are continuing their investigation, and any possibility of foul play will be assessed based on lab results and forensic matching.
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