In a major ruling, the Supreme Court has ordered fundamental reforms in police culture, declaring that the police are servants of the public and not its rulers, and banning the use of colonial and archaic language in official police reports.

In a written judgment in the Muhammad Bakhsh alias Shahzaib vs Government of Sindh case, the apex court ruled that the phrase “Bakhidmat Janab SHO” (To the service of the SHO) may no longer be used in applications submitted to the police.

Instead, applicants must use “Janab SHO”, as the Station House Officer is a public servant, not an authority to be served.

The three-member bench was headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, while the judgment was authored by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar.

The court stated that citizens are not servants of the police; rather, the police are accountable to the public.

It said the use of colonial-era and “slave-like” language in government procedures was unacceptable and violated constitutional values.

The ruling further directed that a person seeking the registration of an FIR should no longer be referred to as a “complainant seeking mercy” (faryadi). Instead, the terms “complainant” or “informant” should be used.

The court formally banned the use of the word faryadi in police proceedings.

The judgment noted that the term faryadi conveys the impression of a cry for mercy, whereas a citizen is exercising a constitutional right, not seeking charity.

The Supreme Court also declared delays in the registration of FIRs to be unacceptable and issued a stern warning to police officers.

It said that delays could lead to the loss of evidence and ruled that, in cases of unjustified delay, criminal proceedings may be initiated against the responsible police officer.