Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday ordered banning the use of word ‘sahib’ for government officials during hearing of a criminal case.
The chief justice was heading a three-member bench which was hearing the bail plea of a murder accused of Mardan.
The use of word sahib by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa additional advocate general for a police officer irked CJP Isa. When the chief justice asked him to give details of the case, the AAG said the “DSP sahib can explain.”
The chief justice retorted that you have spoiled everyone by calling them sahib. “He is a DSP, not a sahib. He is an incompetent DSP.”
The CJP said the use of the word sahib does not reflect an independent nation. When the word sahib is used for government employees, they think that they can’t be held accountable.
He ordered to send a copy of the decision regarding the ban [on the word sahib] to the KP IG police, advocate general and home department.
