CJP against using ‘sahib’ for public servants

Top judge notes addition of title ‘unnecessarily’ elevates their status

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday barred adding the word 'sahib' to the job title of public servants as it "unnecessarily elevates the status of public servants".

"It is about time that the practice of adding the word sahib with one’s job title is discontinued, as it unnecessarily elevates the status of public servants, discontinued, as it unnecessarily elevates the status of public servants, which may instill in them delusions of grandeur and a perception of unaccountability, which is unacceptable since it is against the interests of the public whom they are meant to serve," said a two page written order authored by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.

The instructions from CJP Isa came in an order pertaining to a bail plea in the case of a child's murder in Peshawar last year.

The chief justice observed in the order issued today that the AAG of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) had referred to a local deputy superintendent of police as “DSP sahib”.

CJP Isa observed that the case challan had only relied on two statements and there was a lack of proper investigation. He added that this was a "classic example of an incompetently handled investigation".

“Rather than attending to the matter with the seriousness that it deserves, two police officers, who are investigating the crime, travelled from Peshawar to bring documents which could have been emailed, faxed or sent by WhatsApp, and then the relevant documents could have been filed, which could have been useful in determining the outcome of this bail application,” stated the apex court CJ.

The petitioner was then granted bail against surety bonds of Rs100,000 and ordered a case of further inquiry be initiated.