There is a macabre sense of satisfaction in holding a mirror up to a society that has let itself go. When closely guarded orthodoxies of piety and humanity are shattered, the underreported squirming and squealing become noticeable. Some who try to shine light on such realities can become addicted to the dopamine hit. Others may use these moments for moral grandstanding. But do you have the heart for the moment of reckoning? While judging others, do you spare a moment to reflect on how ugly your society has become?

Celebrity deaths rightfully claim column inches and public attention across the world. Celebrity deaths under suspicious circumstances, when bodies are found abandoned and in an advanced state of decomposition, bring the circus to town. Actress Humaira Asghar's tragic death, and the circumstances in which she was found (or lost), have unlocked the putrid odours of a society in an advanced state of decay.

Her story might have ended nine months ago, but society's is only beginning. Notice who does what now. The rights activists will decry the mistreatment of women in an overwhelmingly patriarchal society. The entertainment industry will express horror and revulsion. The moral police will try to extract lessons from a decaying corpse. The authorities will initiate an inquiry, which will likely go nowhere. And the media will squeeze her mortal remains for every last drop of ratings and sensational voyeurism.

All reactions are predictable, and everyone is adjusted well enough to function within the acceptable parameters of their established roles. Right? It is in........

© The Express Tribune