Islamabad (Pakistan News) – The Supreme Court has directed all Inspectors General of Police in the provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory to ensure that no derogatory, caste-based, community-based, religious-conversion-related, or discriminatory terms are used in FIRs, arrest memos, investigation reports, challans, or any police records involving complainants, accused, victims, or witnesses.
A three-member bench led by Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakak, during the hearing of a criminal case, cautioned that deviations from this principle would only be permissible if the investigating officer provides written, good-faith investigative reasons and believes that revealing such identification is strictly necessary.
The Supreme Court emphasized that human dignity is non-negotiable and that no individual should be considered inferior based on social prejudice. The ruling also clarified that terms such as Bhangi, Chura, Mirasi, Jamadar, Dom, and Musali are no longer merely descriptive of a caste or community but are now regarded as offensive remarks.
