The Supreme Court has recently issued a ban on using the word “sahib” with the titles of government officials. During a hearing related to a murder case of a 10-year-old child in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the investigation conducted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.
The Chief Justice admonished a public prosecutor for addressing a deputy superintendent of police as “sir,” stating that such titles create an air of superiority and are inappropriate, especially when the individual holds an insufficient position.
Read More: Maryam Nawaz asserts PML-N’s supremacy in Balochistan’s political terrain
The court’s decision to prohibit the use of “sahib” in official titles aims to uphold principles of accountability and equality, as using such honorifics can potentially elevate government officials and employees above scrutiny and responsibility.
Moreover, the court highlighted the poor investigation conducted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the case mentioned above, emphasizing the lack of effort in identifying those accountable for the child’s tragic death. This instance was cited as the epitome of inadequate investigative procedures.
Read More: Government Forms Inquiry Commission for TLP’s 2017 Faizabad Protest
The Chief Justice also criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an additional advocate general, for treating the courtroom as their office and gathering information directly from the investigating officer during the court proceedings. This behavior was deemed inappropriate by the Chief Justice, signaling a need for proper courtroom etiquette and professional conduct.
As a result of the hearing, the suspect in the case was granted bail by the Supreme Court. This decision was influenced by the court’s observation of the inadequacy of the police investigation in determining the responsible parties in the child’s demise.
