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SC bars using archaic, demeaning terms in police proceedings, courtrooms
- SC prohibits using “Bakhidmat Janaab SHO” and the term “Faryadi“.
- Says “Janaab SHO” reflects correct constitutional relationship.
- Court stresses delays not be used to penalise victims, weaken cases.
ISLAMABAD: In a significant rights-based ruling, the Supreme Court has directed that archaic and demeaning expressions such as “Bakhidmat Janaab SHO” and the term “Faryadi” must no longer be used in police proceedings and courtrooms, emphasising that citizens approach law-enforcement authorities as a matter of legal right and not as supplicants, The News reported on Saturday.
The court clarified that a simple and lawful address, such as “Janaab SHO” reflects the correct constitutional relationship between the citizen and the police, where the latter is duty-bound to serve the public.
The judgement was authored by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and delivered by a three-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
It arose from a criminal petition challenging the dismissal of an appeal by the Sindh High Court in a murder case, but the Supreme Court expanded the scope of the judgement to address systemic flaws in policing practices and courtroom language.
The case related to the conviction of Muhammad Bux alias Shahzaib for the murder of Muhammad Abbas, who was shot dead in August 2017 in Tando Ghulam Ali.
Although the informant had approached the police within minutes of the incident and the information was entered into the daily diary, the formal First Information Report (FIR) was registered several hours later. The defence relied heavily on this delay to challenge the prosecution case.
While upholding the conviction on merits, the Supreme Court noted that such delays are frequently caused by police inaction rather than by informants, and should not be used to penalise victims or weaken otherwise credible cases.
The court reaffirmed that under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, registration of an FIR in respect of a cognisable offence is mandatory and cannot be refused or delayed. It categorically rejected police practices of waiting for funeral rites, conducting preliminary inquiries, or insisting on written applications before registering an FIR.
The judges warned that a delay in FIR registration results in loss or contamination of evidence, particularly forensic evidence, thereby undermining the integrity of the criminal justice process.+
Taking a stern view, the court held that where an officer-in-charge of a police station deliberately delays the registration of an FIR, a legal presumption will arise that such delay was intended to benefit the accused, unless the officer proves otherwise.
Such conduct, the court ruled, may attract criminal liability under Section 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code for causing the disappearance of evidence, in addition to departmental proceedings. Trial courts and magistrates were empowered to initiate such action after issuing a show-cause notice.
The judgement noted that the practice of delayed FIR registration is considerably more prevalent in Sindh. Consequently, the Prosecutor General, Sindh, was directed to submit a report within one month detailing the average delay in registration of FIRs relating to heinous offences over the last two years. The report is to be placed before the Supreme Court through its Karachi Branch Registry for judicial scrutiny.
A substantial portion of the ruling focused on language used in police papers and court proceedings. The court declared the term “Faryadi” legally misconceived and constitutionally impermissible, observing that it portrays a citizen as a seeker of mercy rather than a rights-bearing individual invoking the law. The misuse of these terms, the court observed, blurs statutory distinctions and offends the dignity of citizens protected under the Constitution.
It clarified that a person providing information for registration of an FIR is legally an “informant,” while a “complainant” is one who files a complaint before a magistrate.
Accordingly, district and sessions judges across Sindh were directed to ensure that in lower courts, no informant or complainant is referred to as “Faryadi” while calling a case.
The Supreme Court further ordered that copies of the judgement be circulated to all high courts and district courts across Pakistan for guidance and compliance, terming the ruling a necessary step toward citizen-centric policing, institutional accountability and restoration of constitutional dignity at the very first stage of the criminal justice process.
Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.
Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.
Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.
“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”
“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”
He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.
For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.
It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.
He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.
A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.
Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.
Antonio Banderas has spoken candidly about the ethnic stereotyping he faced when he first arrived in Hollywood, recalling being told bluntly that his Hispanic background limited him to villainous roles, and explaining why breaking out of that box still means so much to him.
“They said, you are here, like the blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys,” the Oscar-nominated actor told The Times.
The irony of what came next is something he clearly savours.
“The problem was a few years later I had a mask, hat, sword and cape and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes.”
That role was, of course, Zorro, the gutsy hero Banderas played in The Mask of Zorro in 1998 and The Legend of Zorro in 2005.
But it was a cat, not a swordsman, that he considers the most culturally significant step forward.
Puss in Boots, the character he first voiced in Shrek 2 in 2004, reached an audience that nothing else could quite match.
“Even more important is Puss in Boots, because it’s for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent and he’s a good guy.”
He has now voiced the character across five films, including the critically lauded Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which earned an Oscar nomination.
However, the 65-year-old confirmed last year that he has not yet been approached for Shrek 5, due in cinemas on 30 June 2027.
“I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that,” he told Parade.
“Puss in Boots did very well. Number two got a nomination for the Oscar, and the movie behaved beautifully at the box office. But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Maybe they [will] call me tomorrow.”
- Govt to pay OMCs Rs95.59 on petrol, Rs203.88 on diesel under PDC.
- PM blocks petrol, diesel hikes, bears Rs56bn to protect consumers
- Highlights diplomacy, says Pakistan leading talks with Iran, Gulf.
KARACHI: The federal government has increased the price of kerosene oil by Rs4.66 per litre, bringing it to Rs433.40 per litre, effective from March 28, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division.
Petrol and diesel prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs321.17 and Rs335.86 per litre, respectively, despite significant increases in the global oil market.
The Petroleum Division said petrol and diesel prices were held steady to shield consumers from international price shocks.
The government will pay oil marketing companies Rs95.59 per litre on petrol and Rs203.88 per litre on diesel under the Petroleum Development Cess (PDC), as per the notification.
This latest adjustment follows a March 21 revision, when kerosene prices had surged to Rs 428.74 per litre, marking a sharp increase earlier in the month.
The repeated revisions reflect ongoing pressure on domestic fuel pricing amid volatile global markets and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Consumers and businesses continue to feel the ripple effects of rising fuel costs, making this latest hike in kerosene closely watched across the country.
Meanwhile, a few hours before the March 28 announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the nation on the fuel crisis.
PM Shehbaz revealed that he had rejected a summary to raise petrol by Rs95 per litre and diesel by Rs203 per litre, keeping the prices of both fuels unchanged for now, despite global surges.
“The government will bear the additional cost, estimated at Rs56 billion, to protect consumers,” the premier said during the televised address.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in the Middle East, including ongoing talks with Iran and Gulf countries, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leading the negotiations.
Shehbaz vociferously credited CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir and stressed Pakistan’s active diplomacy day and night to promote peace.
Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary
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