ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (HRNW)- The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that the outdated term “Bakhidmat Janab” (Your Servant) may no longer be used when addressing Station House Officers (SHOs) in police records. The decision was issued by Justice Salahuddin Panwhar following a point raised by Judicial Law Clerk Mohammad Subhan Malik.
The Court clarified that a citizen filing an FIR is an informant, not a complainant, and the term “complainant” should only apply to private criminal cases. The SHO is a public servant, serving the people, and should not be addressed in a subservient or feudal manner. From now on, police records will refer to “SHO” only, eliminating archaic and hierarchical language.
The Supreme Court also prohibited the use of the term “Faryadi” in FIRs, noting that it conveys a sense of pleading or mercy rather than asserting legal rights. The Court emphasized that delays in FIR registration are unacceptable and warned police officers that failure to register an FIR promptly could result in legal action under PPC Section 201, as delayed reports risk compromising evidence.
This ruling is a landmark step toward modernizing police procedure, protecting citizens’ rights, and ensuring accountability in law enforcement.
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