Notes on a Scandal

Announcing: Society Girl -- A Tale of Sex, Lies and Scandal , the new book by Saba Imtiaz & Tooba Masood-Khan ( Roli Books , 2024). The book explores the circumstances around the death of the poet and former civil servant Mustafa Zaidi in October 1970, and the ensuing scandal that became a fixture in Pakistani newspapers. This new investigation into a story of twisted motives and murderous int...

Announcing: Society Girl - A Tale of Sex, Lies, and Scandal , the new book by Saba Imtiaz & Tooba Masood-Khan ( Roli Books , 2024). The book explores the circumstances around the death of the poet and former civil servant Mustafa Zaidi in October 1970, and the ensuing scandal that became a fixture in Pakistani newspapers. This new investigation into a story of twisted motives and murderous int...

In the finale episode of Notes on a Scandal, Saba and Tooba look at what happened to Shahnaz Gul after she was cleared of the charge of killing Mustafa Zaidi, the sightings of Shahnaz in Karachi over the years, and how people viewed her in the years since she captured the country's imagination. Later on in the episode, we answer questions and discuss theories sent to us by listeners. Thank yo...

On the penultimate episode of this season — and the podcast — Saba and Tooba continue tracking the proceedings against Shahnaz Gul in a district court in Karachi, taking place while the country was engulfed in war. In 1972, a verdict is announced in the case of the State vs Shahnaz Gul. For the finale, we invite questions and thoughts about the season and its themes. If there’s anything you’d like...

As legal proceedings against Shahnaz Gul get underway, her lawyer and the prosecution battle it out in court in a bail hearing. Shakespeare is invoked. Shahnaz is held in a police lockup, and then sent to Karachi's Central Jail, where details of her detention are being leaked to reporters. We take a look at the court proceedings of the State vs Shahnaz Gul - from the day Shahnaz Gul is presen...

ADVISORY: This episode contains mentions of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. How do you connect the dots of a story where so much is missing? Why is there blood at the crime scene? And why did Shahnaz remain unconscious all night -- and is that even possible? Saba and Tooba attempt to understand the forensic investigation into Mustafa Zaidi's death with Dr Summaiya Syed Tariq, the Add...

ADVISORY: This episode contains scenes of a distressing nature. Listener discretion is advised. In November 1970, nearly a month after Mustafa Zaidi died, his body was exhumed for a second medical examination, all in a quest for doctors and police officials to figure out: how did Mustafa Zaidi die? What could they find that could help them build a case against their suspect in custody, Shahnaz Gul...

We take a look at the frenzied hours after the arrest of Shahnaz Gul, and how the police in Karachi, Pakistan handled the initial investigation. Later in the episode, we talk to the academic Dr Zoha Waseem, the author of Insecure Guardians: Enforcement, Encounters and Everyday Policing in Postcolonial Karachi , about perceptions of the Karachi police, how they handle cases involving the elite, and...

On November 5, 1970, Shahnaz Gul was arrested by the Karachi police on charges of killing Mustafa Zaidi. She was represented by S S Shaikh, one of Karachi's most well-known lawyers. The trial was a media circus -- Shahnaz was hounded by press photographers. Dozens of members of the public went to the hearings, hanging around court to catch a glimpse of Shahnaz, whose legendary beauty is still...

Notes on a Scandal's Season 2 "The State vs Shahnaz Gul" premieres with a recounting of the 1960s saga that led to Mustafa Zaidi printing flyers calling Shahnaz  a Pakistani Christine Keeler. It's the title that would stick with her forever.  Newspaper headlines voiced by Mina Malik Ayub Khan's portrait is courtesy archives of The Mirror (1968 Anniversary Issue) Mentioned...

A trailer for the upcoming second season of Notes on a Scandal: The State vs Shahnaz Gul.  Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabahitooba Instagram: @tabahitooba Saba Imtiaz Twitter: @sabaimtiaz Instagram: @sabaimtiaz

A trailer for the upcoming second season of Notes on a Scandal: The State vs Shahnaz Gul.  Credits: English / Urdu headlines by Mina Malik, a writer and poet based in Lahore who dreams of treading the boards. Recitation of Mustafa Zaidi's verses, courtesy Zaheer Alam Kidwai Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabah...

In the season finale, we discuss the various influential men who were reportedly connected to the case, and why everyone cast around for suspects. We discuss the theories around Mustafa's death and Shahnaz's involvement, and why almost every theory has one gaping hole that can't be explained.   Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 To...

The police investigate — and arrest a suspect in the death of Mustafa Zaidi. Later in the episode, we analyse the various theories of how Mustafa’s death could have been murder. This episode features verses by Mustafa Zaidi, recited by author and translator Bilal Tanweer. Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabahitooba...

 We retrace, hour by hour, the events leading up to Mustafa Zaidi's death on October 12, 1970, and discuss a significant, highly-debated comment made by Mustafa in the days before he passed away. Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabahitooba Instagram: @tabahitooba Saba Imtiaz Twitter: @sabaimtiaz Instagram: @sab...

We look at Shahnaz Gul and Mustafa Zaidi's relationship based on Mustafa Zaidi’s perspective, as seen through anecdotes and statements by his friends. We also revisit the crime scene -- fifty years later.  This episode features Mustafa Zaidi's poetry, recited by Sheema Kermani. Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitte...

Advisory: This episode includes mentions of suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. We take a look at Shahnaz Gul and Mustafa Zaidi's relationship from the  perspective and statements of Shahnaz Gul in the days and months after the scandal broke out into the open.  This episode features Mustafa Zaidi's poetry as recited by Sheema Kermani. At the end of the episode,...

We introduce Shahnaz Gul, the mysterious and much-maligned woman at the centre of the events of Mustafa Zaidi's death. In the late 1960s, Shahnaz and her husband Saleem moved to Karachi... and into the arms of Pakistan's cosmopolitan, swinging elite. Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabahitooba Instagram: @...

In 1970, phones begin ringing across Karachi as word spreads that Mustafa Zaidi is dead. Fifty years later, Tooba and Saba find the house where Mustafa died. Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabahitooba Instagram: @tabahitooba Saba Imtiaz Twitter: @sabaimtiaz Instagram: @sabaimtiaz

We introduce the life of the late poet and government officer Mustafa Zaidi, whose mysterious death in Karachi, Pakistan in 1970s caused an explosive scandal.  Thank you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan Twitter: @tabahitooba Instagram: @tabahitooba Saba Imtiaz Twitter: @sabaimtiaz Instagram: @sabaimtiaz