Sufia Karim

Name: Sufia Karim
First Appeared: 12th January 1988
Last Appeared: 21st June 1990
Played by: Rani Singh

Sufia Karim’s life was a blend of tradition and turmoil. Married to Ashraf in an arranged marriage, Sufia moved to Britain in 1973, following her husband who had arrived in 1968. They settled into a new life, raising their two children, Sohail and Shireen. In 1988, the Karim family moved to Walford, taking up residence at 55 Victoria Road and running the shop First ’til Last. Sufia worked alongside Ashraf, managing the shop and trying to build a stable life for their family.

However, stability proved elusive. In 1989, Sufia discovered that Ashraf was having an affair with a woman named Stella. Devastated, she initially decided to leave him, but Ashraf managed to convince her to stay, promising the affair was over. Despite this betrayal, Sufia focused on arranging a marriage for their daughter Shireen with a suitor named Jabbar Ahmed. Just when things seemed to be settling down, Ashraf reignited his affair with Stella, and Jabbar’s family discovered his infidelity, calling off the engagement.

Determined to protect Shireen’s happiness, Sufia, along with Jabbar’s mother, helped the young couple continue their engagement in secret. By June 1990, the Karim family decided it was time for a fresh start and moved to Bristol, leaving the drama of Walford behind.