Supreme Court bans use of 'Bakhidmat Janab' in police complaints
Pakistan
Supreme Court banned colonial-era language in police complaints, ruled SHO a public servant, prohibited FIR delays, and ordered use of rights-based terminology in policing.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling declaring the use of the phrase “Bakhidmat Janab SHO” impermissible in police applications, terming it a reflection of colonial-era thinking.
The judgment was authored by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, with the court issuing clear directions on a point raised by Judicial Law Clerk Muhammad Subhan Malik.
According to the verdict, police departments are barred from accepting applications addressed as “Bakhidmat Janab SHO.” The court categorically rejected colonial language, stating that an SHO is a public servant, not a master, and the public are not subordinates. Henceforth, applications may only be addressed as “Janab SHO.”
The court further ruled that the citizen seeking registration of an FIR shall be referred to as an “informant” rather than a “complainant.” The judgment clarified that the term “complainant” is applicable only to private criminal complaints. Additionally, the word “faryadi” has also been prohibited in police proceedings, as it conveys a sense of pleading for mercy rather than asserting a legal right.
In its written decision, the Supreme Court emphasized that any delay in registering an FIR is unacceptable. Police officers were issued a stern warning that unjustified delays could lead to prosecution under Section 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The court noted that delays in FIR registration risk loss of evidence and stressed the need for a fundamental shift in state conduct toward citizens.
