HYDERABAD, July 11: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Thursday issued contempt of court notices to the Taluka Nazim, Samaro, Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli; the Taluka Municipal Administration, Samaro; and the Taluka municipal officer, Samaro, on an application filed by two vegetable commission agents of Samaro Sabzi Mandi, Mohammad Iqbal (son of Ibrahim Khan) and Mohammad Iqbal (son of A. Din), both Qaimkhanis by caste.

In the main petition, filed in the year 2000, the petitioners claimed that they had market committee licenses and were legally authorized to carry on their business at various places.

They said that they had been continuing their business without any objection from any quarter and were regularly paying the market committee fee.

They said that in 1981, the Sindh government directed the chairman, local councils, that they would not interfere in any business assigned to the market committee.

They told the court that following the devolution plan, the respondents Taluka Nazim and the Taluka municipal officer visited the Sabzi Mandi and asked the petitioners to wind up their business; otherwise, they would be forcibly thrown out.

The respondents were directed not to cause any harassment to the petitioners in conducting their lawful business and if the respondents are of the view that the petitioners had committed any violation of any license, rule or law, they should first serve a notice in writing on the petitioners, giving them the opportunity of being heard, and, thereafter, should proceed strictly in accordance with the law.

The Sindh High Court has sent the matter along with listed miscellaneous applications, including that of contempt of court, to the principal seat, Karachi, as it is to be heard by a division bench.