First police woman appointed as SHO in Karachi

E-Paper | May 02, 2026

KARACHI: In a landmark appointment, a female sub-inspector in Karachi was elevated to the position of Station House Officer (SHO) on Tuesday, DawnNews reported.

Sub-inspector Ghazala Syed took charge as SHO of a police station in Karachi’s Clifton area.

Syed was appointed to the post today on the directives of the Additional Inspector General.

The police employ a large majority of men in Pakistan, where women are rarely encouraged to pursue a career in police.

Also read: HerStory — Seven defining moments for the Pakistani woman

Women comprise less than 1 per cent of the total police force in Pakistan, according to 2012 data by the National Police Bureau.

The ratio is much lower as compared to other developing nations in the region, with Afghanistan the only other SAARC country with under 1 per cent female employment in police.

In India, women constitute approximately 6.6 per cent of the police force; 5 per cent in Nepal; 3.5 per cent in Bangladesh; and 5.3 per cent in Sri Lanka.

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Apr 08, 2014 06:48pm

Congrats !

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Zak

Apr 08, 2014 06:49pm

Excellent- now Clifton will be more efficient and safe.

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Apr 08, 2014 06:50pm

Good Girl!!!

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just_someone

Apr 08, 2014 07:12pm

maybe this the only way things will get better. women are hopefully less corrupted by the system. i remember when i was back home, police-wallas used to not ask for a bribe when women were with you (like if you mother or sister was in the car). but when i recently went back home, i noticed they just even have the shame now and they openly ask for bribes in front of older women.

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Mr.T

Apr 08, 2014 07:12pm

Ab taira kia hoga kalia...

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Syed Rizvi

Apr 08, 2014 07:31pm

I am confident the crime will come down . The ministry should consider appointing more ladies high police officials. Ms.Ghazala,congrats - show some better results compare to male offers.

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ALI RIZVI

Apr 08, 2014 07:33pm

I am glad to know that historical development of Sindh Police. In Pakistan where 52% population belongs to women that has been appointed for the post of SHO for very first time in the history of Pakistan that's amazing.Hopefully new Women SHO will be role model for those women who want to join Police. Especially Thanks for Additional I.G Sindh who considered and recommended to her.

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Karachiite

Apr 08, 2014 07:49pm

@Zak: It is absurd to say "now Clifton will be more efficient and safe". It smacks (gender) bias because there are male officers in the police force who can be and are as efficient and honest as any female officer may be. One should know that our police department is corrupt to the core and it is not about gender issue here. Be it men or women, anybody can have disciplinary issue and can be corrupt. We will have to wait and see what this female SHO has to offer to the peaceful citizens. Another big question is: will this female officer lead from the front her "men" during a dangerous situation such as a raid, or she will be just ordering them to deal with criminals while staying away from the danger zone, perhaps behind the police vehicle. Remember, a good officer in the forces always remain in the front during action!

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Baluch

Apr 08, 2014 08:24pm

Why, during one of those rare positive moments for the country such as the appointment of Ghazala as SHO, do we need to put it down by comparing Pakistan to SAARC countries? Pakistan should be compared to other conservative Muslim societies, like S.Arabia, Iran, etc. and not to secular societies such as India, Sri Lanka, etc. in this case, we should be way in front and that would make us feel good about ourselves. Of course, we can do better than SAARC countries - provided we are willing to make the fundamental change.

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Khanm

Apr 08, 2014 08:25pm

@Zak: Things which we men could not do would be taken care by women. Shame on us.

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Ilyas Bhatti

Apr 08, 2014 08:43pm

Congratulations to Ghazala Syed on her promotion to the rank of SHO in Karachi. As a Pakistani American I am particularly delighted to see a capable woman moving up the ranks in the police department. As Commissioner of the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), I was fortunate to have had the opportunity of appointing the first woman, Kathleen O'Toole, to the position of Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police. She went on to become the Secretary of Public Safety, and then the Director of the National Police in Ireland. I wish Ghazala Syed the very best in her future endeavors. Ilyas Bhatti MDC Commissioner (1989 - 1995) Associate Professor, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA.

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muhammad

Apr 08, 2014 08:58pm

Hats off to Ms. Ghazala Syed and wish her all the best

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Aziz

Apr 08, 2014 09:02pm

Congratulations, SHO Ghazala Syed. You can do it! Good and forward looking move by the Police Depart. This will certainly impact on the crime rate. Please recruit more women and reduce the gender disparity.

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Akram Khan

Apr 08, 2014 09:22pm

@Good Karachi should handed over to all women SHOs, because women will avoid bribe in comparison to Man.: All woman should be Sind domicile, no other province people in Sindh earned loot and go back police should be stopped. Ms Syed you have Thousand Cong of SHO clifton we want to see IG sindh

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Azmat Khan

Apr 08, 2014 09:45pm

@Ilyas Bhatti: Thank you Mr. Batti

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Azmat Khan

Apr 08, 2014 09:55pm

Very good news.Thanks very much PPP and Karachi police officers who promoted and appointed a lady police officer as an sho.Congrats to Ms Syed. Our momen are not behind anyone for work and efficiency..We should trust and courage this gender.More women should be inducted into the police department.Thank you dawn.com for posting such a news

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FIZA

Apr 08, 2014 11:28pm

Mubarak Baad Sub-inspector Ghazala Syed! You are blazing a path for many more females who will Inshallah follow you as being among the brave and brightest women of Pakistan including our heroic PAF female pilots! May your rise be meteoric and full of positive support from all your male colleagues. ***No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you*** *Muhammad Ali Jinnah*

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Muslim

Apr 09, 2014 09:37am

Not a good decsion..... Why are we following west. Women are emotional and cannt take logical decsions. They should try some other profession like teaching etc. Forces are for tough men.

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msm

Apr 09, 2014 09:54am

@Syed Rizvi: how about appointing a woman PM?

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Danish Haider

Apr 09, 2014 10:48am

Congratulations SHO Ms. Ghazala Syed. Please do your best to restore respect of Police among common citizen, it really a matter of concern that people of Pakistan hate their very own Police.

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Necromancer

Apr 09, 2014 11:37am

Take care burgers of Clifton and Defence they are the only one in trouble

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mba

Apr 09, 2014 11:59am

Congratulations, also to the Karachi police department for this open-minded decision. I hope this would not remain an exception. It is really worrying that Pakistan is falls more and more in line with Afghanistan, Nigeria etc. in several Statistics. Our per capita income is much higher than these countries - so our social progress must be much better. Probably we should start learning the very basics of arithmetic: female population in Pakistan is certainly more than 50%. Dear Pakistani (men), please start counting the just female share in ALL sectors. As I have already mentioned in these pages: a langda Pakistan is not doing good to anyone in the country. We need both pillars of our society: men and women for the future of our children.

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gerry d'cunha

Apr 09, 2014 01:59pm

its a good step no doubt, but will the police culture ever change?the corrupt male police officers under her supervision will still use their stunt under her umbrella

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Waqar

Apr 09, 2014 03:16pm

Dear, God has given you a very big opportunity for your country so be loyal with all and do not forget the justice. I congratulate you on your achievement. In the end God bless you and wish you good luck. Waqar Rawalpindi

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Apr 09, 2014 06:44pm

@Muslim: lo...kar di an choti baat!!!!...ab dekhna Ghalaza baji kaisay dehshat gardoon ka band bajati hain....jo kaam tum jaisay "tough men" nahi kar sakay woh aik ar ka dikhai gi Inshallah!!!

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imran ali

Apr 09, 2014 07:59pm

@Akram Khan: it is very easy to make domicile, of karachi..give money domicile will reach home

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khushboo danish

Apr 09, 2014 08:03pm

Proud to be a Pakistani Youngster. I must say that as, being a young pakistani girl of 14 years., how much i have observed then, many women in Pakistan are qualified with high degrees, but they are even not allowed to do Job, or in some cases, they can;t take and provide proper advantage of their qualification and are limited to acquire education only and are then married.... . As there is a Proverb, '' PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH'',then surely Miss GHAZALA SYED has implemented it in her life by taking hold of the responsibilty of SHO. P.S: she has given a slap on those narrow mind people, who think that woman can never be equal to the man, But she has proved that surely , WOMAN can never be equal to man, As they are much high in status in the comparison of Man.....

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Apr 09, 2014 10:36pm

@Muslim: Nice try. Next time, post with your real name, instead of giving a bad name to muslims.

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Apr 09, 2014 10:38pm

Congratulations Ms Ghazala. I wish you success for your upcoming endeavors. May allah be with you.

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IKE

Apr 09, 2014 11:38pm

Good for this lady. But what for the nation? Nothing really. Same old Bribes and trickery.

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