In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the use of the traditional phrase “Bakhidmat Janab” (To the service of) in applications addressed to police station house officers (SHOs).
Justice Salahuddin, in his judgment, stated that an SHO is a public servant, not a superior authority to whom people must show submissiveness. He emphasized that citizens are not servants of the police, and therefore, the use of outdated, slavish language must be discontinued.
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The court directed that police officers should now be addressed simply as “Mr. SHO” in written applications.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has prohibited the use of the word “petition” for such applications. The court observed that the term gives the impression that citizens are begging for mercy, which is inappropriate in a democratic system where public officials are accountable to the people.
This ruling aims to promote dignity, equality, and a more citizen-friendly approach in official communication with the police.
