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Dubai: Former Pakistani model turned journalist Quratulain Ali Khan was found dead in her Karachi apartment on Saturday and police suspect that it might be a suicide.

Reports suggest that police received information from a neighbour of smoke coming out of her flat. Authorities reportedly rushed to the spot and found the door locked from inside. Upon breaking down the door, they found her body inside along with some burnt books that she allegedly had set on fire.

Authorities have ruled out murder or any kind of foul play, according to Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune.

Doctors at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) confirmed that suffocation was the cause of death, after her body was moved there.

Her friend and journalist, Hassan Zaidi @hyzaidi, announced Khan’s death on Twitter, who was commonly known as ‘Annie’: “My friend Annie Ali Khan, former model who branched off into journalism, documentary production and as a writer has been found dead in her flat after a fire in it. RIP beautiful soul.”

A number of other media personalities expressed their grief on social media platforms.

Prominent reporter, Natasha Fatah @NatashaFatah tweeted: “So upset to share this news. I knew Annie. She was brave, and smart and beautiful. Rest in peace…”

Sharing a video of Khan reading her travelogue, journalist Mehreen Kasana @mehreenkasana reminisced about an encounter she had with the writer: “I asked Annie three years ago to read one of her travelogues from Peshawar. She sat down and read this for me. After this, we had dinner with her mama. Annie was always, always generous, witty, beautiful, and keen. Words will never do her justice.”

Twitter user Masroor Bukhari @masroorbukhari wrote: “A young writer, Annie Ali Khan, unfortunately chose to take her life. We all are saddened by this. Writers and poets are very sensitive souls, the society should care for them…”

Khan has written for a number of publications, including Dawn, Herald, Slate, The Express Tribune, The Asia Society, and The Caravan. She often tackled community oriented stories, drawing inspiration from her native land – Pakistan.