Veteran actress Ayesha Khan passes away at 77

Veteran Pakistani television actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her flat in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area on Thursday evening, police confirmed. She was 77.

Authorities believe the body had been lying unattended for nearly a week. Neighbours alerted the family after detecting a foul smell emanating from her apartment.

Police later moved the body to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legal formalities before it was transferred to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said the post-mortem examination has yet to be conducted, as officials await the arrival of her son.

A police spokesperson said the actress had been living alone and that her children do not reside in Karachi. Initial findings suggest she may have passed away while in the bathroom.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Born in 1948, Ayesha Khan was among the pioneering figures in Pakistan Television (PTV) drama. She was widely acclaimed for her powerful performances in classics.

She was also the elder sister of the late actress Khalida Riasat.

Arts Council of Pakistan President Ahmed Shah mourned her passing, calling it “a profound loss” for the country’s drama industry.

Her acting career spanned over five decades, during which she portrayed a wide range of complex female roles that left a lasting impact on Pakistani television.