ISLAMABAD: Tucked amid the dust and bustle of Islamabad’s fringes, the suburb of Phulgran has long been a magnet for trouble: drug dens, land-grabbing, and a loose grip on law and order.
But now, it has something new: a phenomenon.
In her blue uniform and a modest headscarf, Misbah Shahbaz quietly took charge in 2025 as Station House Officer (SHO) of Phulgran, Islamabad’s first-ever female SHO at a general, or men’s, police station.
The post of SHO is one of the most visible and operationally significant leadership roles in Pakistan’s police hierarchy, responsible for crime investigation, public safety, and station-level administration. Until now, female SHOs in Islamabad had only led women police stations.
“It’s a historic decision, and I feel very proud,” Shahbaz told Arab News as she walked through a briefing with her team.
