Notes on a Scandal

Saba Imtiaz & Tooba Masood
  • 4.6 (21)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Notes on a Scandal

A tale of sex, lies, and scandal in Pakistan. A limited-episode podcast that reexamines and investigates a fascinating crime in an unusual city. The podcast serves as an accompaniment to Society Girl, a non-fiction book by Tooba Masood and Saba Imtiaz.

  1. Society Girl - the book! ft. Sanam Maher

    11/14/2024

    Society Girl - the book! ft. Sanam Maher

    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 intentions, of it-girls and playboys, of class and culture, and a press out for blood and salaciousness...

    1h 2m
  2. Announcing our new book SOCIETY GIRL and a very special conversation!

    SEASON 3, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Announcing our new book SOCIETY GIRL and a very special conversation!

    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 intentions, of it-girls and playboys, of class and culture, and a press out for blood and salaciousness...

    1 min

  3. 12/11/2022

    S02E08: Finale

    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 you for listening! Find us on Instagram and Twitter: Instagram: @murdermystery70 Tooba Masood-Khan...

    30 min
  4. S2E07: Verdict

    11/20/2022

    S2E07: Verdict

    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 to share about your knowledge of the case or if you just have a conspiracy theory — send in your...

    29 min
  5. S02E06: Romeo and Juliet go to Court

    11/05/2022

    S02E06: Romeo and Juliet go to Court

    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 presented before a magistrate to when she gets out on bail. Photo: Published in Star, February 1971. Courte...

    28 min
  6. S02E05: Body of Lies

    10/22/2022

    S02E05: Body of Lies

    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 Additional Police Surgeon at Karachi's Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Hospital and a forensic consultant.&n...

    36 min
  7. S02E04: Bringing up the Bodies

    09/30/2022

    S02E04: Bringing up the Bodies

    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? Saba and Tooba discuss the dramatic and surreal events of the exhumation, and recall their que...

    27 min
  8. S02E03: Drama at Drigh Road

    09/16/2022

    S02E03: Drama at Drigh Road

    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 the social dynamics at play in a complex investigation like the Mustafa Zaidi case. About D...

    42 min
See All (20)

Trailers

4.6
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

A tale of sex, lies, and scandal in Pakistan. A limited-episode podcast that reexamines and investigates a fascinating crime in an unusual city. The podcast serves as an accompaniment to Society Girl, a non-fiction book by Tooba Masood and Saba Imtiaz.

Information

  • Creator
    Saba Imtiaz & Tooba Masood
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Notes on a Scandal
  • Show Website
    Notes on a Scandal

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