Supreme Court sets 24-hour focus for FIR registration

The Supreme Court has issued important directions concerning the registration of FIRs and police responsibility in cases involving

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, September 18, 2026:The Supreme Court has issued important directions concerning the registration of FIRs and police responsibility in cases involving cognizable offences, placing renewed emphasis on timely access to the criminal justice system.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Hashim Khan Kakar issued the directions while hearing the Muhammad Bakhsh case relating to Sindh.

According to the order, the Prosecutor General Sindh has been directed to provide the court with a record of murder and other heinous crime cases registered from January 1, 2025 onwards. The information is to include the date and time of the alleged occurrence, when police were informed and when the FIR was registered.

The exercise is intended to identify cases in which there was a significant delay between the reporting of an offence and registration of the FIR.

Delay and police responsibility

The court’s observations underline that registration of an FIR should not be unnecessarily delayed where information discloses a cognizable offence.

The order also highlights the potential consequences of deliberate interference with the investigation process. Where intentional delay results in the disappearance or destruction of evidence, the relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, including Section 201 concerning disappearance of evidence, may become applicable, subject to the facts and legal requirements of each case.

The emphasis is significant because delays can affect investigations. During the initial hours of a crime, evidence may be lost, CCTV footage may be overwritten, witnesses may become unavailable and suspects may have opportunities to evade arrest.

The court stressed that the police station is a public institution and that police officers are responsible for facilitating citizens rather than unnecessarily obstructing access to legal remedies.

Changing the language of police complaints

The judgment also addresses the terminology used in police applications. The court has objected to unnecessarily servile language in applications addressed to police officers and emphasized the status of police officials as public servants.

The terminology used for complainants was also discussed, with the judgment emphasizing the legal character of a person reporting an offence rather than treating that individual merely as a supplicant seeking a favour.

The court has further directed that the judgment be translated into Sindhi and circulated among relevant judicial forums, helping improve public understanding of legal rights and procedures.

Why timely FIR registration matters

For ordinary citizens, the registration of an FIR is often the first formal step toward a criminal investigation. Unjustified delays can create additional difficulties for victims and their families, particularly in serious cases.

The court’s directions therefore place greater emphasis on documenting when an offence was reported and when police formally registered the case.

The next stage will be implementation. The record sought from Sindh will provide the court with an opportunity to examine the extent of delays and determine whether further directions or action are required.

The judgment does not mean that every delayed FIR automatically results in criminal liability. Any action against an officer would depend on the circumstances, evidence and applicable law.

Ultimately, the significance of the order will depend on how consistently its directions are implemented at police stations and monitored by supervisory and judicial authorities.

For citizens, the central message is straightforward: when information discloses a cognizable offence, access to the FIR process should be timely, lawful and free from unnecessary administrative obstacles.