Main content

Murder she solved: Karachi’s pioneering police surgeon

How Summaiya Syed – the first woman to be chief surgeon for the Karachi police – is standing up to misogyny and shaking up forensic investigation across Pakistan.

As a child in Karachi, Summaiya Syed always dreamt of being a detective. Her inspiration was the TV show Murder, She Wrote. But as woman in 1980s Pakistan, Summaiya’s opportunities were limited. So she tried another path – becoming a doctor and working with the police as a medical officer. Summaiya was thriving as a forensic specialist and would eventually be appointed the chief surgeon for the Karachi police, the first woman to serve in the role. The job was gruelling enough, but Summaiya also had to contend with harassment. How she stood up to misogyny – and won.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Maryam Maruf

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Summaiya Syed in her office. Credit: Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú)

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Wed 6 Mar 2024 03:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 12:06GMT
  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 18:06GMT
  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 23:06GMT
  • Wed 6 Mar 2024 03:06GMT

Featured in...

Contact Outlook

Contact Outlook

Info on how we might use your contribution on air

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected