First police woman appointed as SHO in Karachi

Published April 8, 2014
A screen grab of Ghazala Syed from DawnNews footage.
A screen grab of Ghazala Syed from DawnNews footage.

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.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.