PESHAWAR (Monitoring Desk): Iffat Shaheen, a young Pashtun girl from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s conservative Karak district, holds a position of responsibility at Peshawar’s central jail.
As the prison facility’s assistant superintendent, she has inspired many women by breaking gender stereotypes and moving into a male-dominated occupation. However, she says it was not an easy journey for her.
“Girls are normally not educated in my family,” she told Arab News on Monday. “Fortunately, this was not the case with me since my parents thought differently and decided to support me throughout my education career. They are both truly inspirational.”
After finishing her basic education, Shaheen chose to study law and finished her LLB degree from Punjab University. Currently, she is doing Masters of Law from the University of Lahore where she goes over the weekend to meet with faculty members and submit her coursework.
After successfully doing LLB, Shaheen decided to appear in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission examination and secured the position of Assistant Superintendent of Jail.
“Securing a job in the prison department was not easy,” she added. “Many people get nervous while thinking about the idea of working with a penitentiary, but I never liked normal jobs and was always interested in doing something special and unique. So I refused the offer to work with the social welfare department and opted for the employment opportunity at the prison facility.”
Regardless of the doubters and naysayers, Shaheen overcame social obstacles and setbacks and managed to live her dream. She even motivated the inmates to think positively and strive for a better future.
“She is very cooperative and gives us respect,” said a female prisoner who requested not to be named. “We discuss our problem with her and she always tries to solve them.”
