Anoosh Masood Chaudhry is not your ordinary policewoman. She is a doctor, a gold medalist, a crime fighter, and a history maker. She is the first female ASP from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the first female SSP of Lahore's Operations Wing, and the deputy director of Elite Police of Punjab. She is also one of the most decorated and respected officers in the country, having received accolades for her performance and achievements in the field of law enforcement.
Chaudhry's journey to becoming a policewoman was not a conventional one. She completed her MBBS from Fatima Jinnah Medical College and received a gold medal in medicine. She then did a year-long house job at Mayo Hospital and attended the SAARC International Conference of Dermatology in 2008 as the youngest attendee. However, she decided to pursue a career in the civil service and took the CSS exam. She cleared the exam and joined the Police Service of Pakistan as an ASP in 2014.
She was initially posted in Lahore, but later moved to Abbottabad, where she became the first female ASP of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She faced many challenges and threats in the province, which is known for its volatile security situation and conservative culture. However, she did not let that deter her from performing her duties with courage and professionalism. She handled many sensitive and high-profile cases, such as the murder of a transgender activist, the kidnapping of a Chinese engineer, and the attack on a school bus.
She was later transferred back to Punjab, where she served as SP of the Investigation Branch in Kasur, Additional SP of the Investigation Branch in Model Town, Lahore, and SP of Punjab Police Headquarters in Lahore. She earned the reputation of being the best crime fighter in Lahore, having filed 74% of challans in 2018. She also led several successful operations against criminals, terrorists, and drug dealers. She was declared the most outstanding officer of the investigation wing in 2019 by Lahore's Investigation Headquarters.
In September 2019, she was appointed as the deputy director, Administration, for Elite Police of Punjab, a specialized unit that deals with counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and VIP security. She is responsible for overseeing the administrative and operational matters of the Elite Police, as well as training and mentoring the officers. She is also the first female officer to hold this position.
In May 2022, she was appointed as SSP of Lahore's Operations Wing, becoming the first female officer to head the wing that is in charge of maintaining law and order in the city. She is tasked with managing the police stations, patrolling units, traffic police, and emergency response teams in Lahore. She is also the first female officer to be posted as SSP Operations in any city of Pakistan.
Chaudhry is an inspiration for many young women who aspire to join the police force. She has proven that gender is no barrier to achieving excellence and breaking stereotypes. She has also shown that policewomen can handle any situation and challenge with competence and confidence. She is a role model for not only women, but also men, who respect and admire her for her dedication and professionalism. She is a true asset for the police and the nation.