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The Sindh culture department has stepped forward and offered to take care of the late actor Humaira Asghar Ali’s burial and funeral if there are no legal heirs willing to do so. The offer comes in light of reports that her family has refused to take the body for burial.

Ali, a 32-year-old actor and model, was found dead in her apartment in Karachi’s DHA on Tuesday. The police found her decomposed body while carrying out a court-ordered eviction notice.

South DIG Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that the actor’s family lived in Lahore and when the police approached them they, particularly her father, refused to take the body for burial.

Later, he said, the deceased’s brother-in-law approached the police and he was expected to arrive here on Thursday (today) to meet with the police.

When news spread of her family’s refusal to take the body, several members of the entertainment fraternity approached the police, expressing their willingness to perform the last rites and arrange the burial, the DIG said. “We shall hand them the body in case the family refuses,” he said. Actors Yashma Gill and Sonya Hussayn are among many who have stepped forward and offered to arrange the burial.

In a notification issued by the Sindh culture department on Thursday, Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah has taken notice of Ali’s death. He is “very much aggrieved for non-cooperation from her legal heirs to take over custody of the body for burial.”

“In light of this situation and considering her contributions to the arts and culture of the country, the culture department is wiling to take responsibility for her burial arrangements with respect and in dignified manner,” read the notice, which was addressed to the South DIG. “It is therefore requested that her body be handed over to the culture department for burial after fulfilling formalities as per law.”

The notice authorises the director-general of culture, Munawar Mahaser to complete further formalities.