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Pakistani television lost one of its most enduring stars this week, as veteran actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her Karachi home on June 19. According to The Express Tribune, police and forensic teams at the scene revealed that the actress had died nearly a week prior, with her body discovered in a severely decomposed state.

Ayesha Khan was found dead at her home

A familiar face across generations of viewers, Ayesha Khan had a career that spanned nearly four decades. Known for her impactful roles in television dramas, telefilms, and movies, her last known screen appearance was in the 2020 TV show Soteli Maamta.

Authorities were reportedly alerted when neighbours noticed a strong odour coming from her house and informed the police. Her remains were initially shifted to the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre for postmortem analysis. However, the process was put on hold as officials awaited the arrival of her son from abroad. In the interim, her body has been transferred to the Edhi Foundation mortuary.

As per a statement to Dawn, local police suspect that Ayesha may have slipped and fallen while exiting her bathroom, possibly leading to death by natural causes.

Who was Ayesha Khan?

Born in 1948, Ayesha was the elder sister of the late actress Khalida Riyasat, another celebrated figure from the golden era of Pakistani television. Together, the sisters left a lasting imprint on the industry before Khalida’s untimely demise in 1996 due to cancer.

Though she withdrew from public life in her later years, Ayesha Khan remained a revered name. Reports suggest she had been living in relative solitude after stepping away from the entertainment world.

Throughout her illustrious career, Ayesha captivated audiences with her performances in a number of iconic dramas including Akhri Chattan, Tipu Sultan: The Tiger Lord, Dehleez, Daraarein, Bol Meri Machli, and Ek Aur Aasman. Her film appearances were rare but notable, including roles in Muskaan (2011) and Fatima (2012).

Following the news of her passing, condolences and tributes have poured in from peers and admirers across the entertainment fraternity. The President of the Arts Council of Pakistan described her death as “a great loss for Pakistani drama.”