KARACHI, Jan 22: A lawyer has moved the Sindh High Court for administration of a fresh oath to all superior court judges without exception.

Advocate Arif Ali said in his writ petition that the services of any superior court judge cannot be dispensed with except in accordance with Article 209 of the Constitution through the Supreme Judicial Council.

Tenancy dispute: A dispute between a tenant and a landlord was amicably resolved on Wednesday when the Sindh High Court allowed the former to withdraw a contempt petition moved by him against the latter for evicting him in violation of a court order.

Salman Asad was allegedly thrown out of his rented Defence Society premises, with bag and baggage, by his landlord Maj (retd) Ayaz Toosy, in violation of a stay order pending a dispute over enhancement of rent. DSP Rasheed Shah helped him take the forcible possession on the night between Oct 22 and 23, 2002.

Mr Asad moved a contempt petition against Mr Toosy and the police official. Arrest warrants were issued by Justice Mohammad Roshan Essani in November to enforce their presence in the court and were repeated when they jumped the bail.

As the petition came up for hearing before Justice Zawwar Hussain Jaffery on Wednesday, Mr Asad sought the court’s permission to withdraw it, which was granted. Advocate Khwaja Naveed Ahmed appeared for the respondents.

According to the counsel, the landlord agreed to pay Rs 2.5 million to compensate for the losses suffered by the tenant.

bakra piri: The Sindh High Court has fixed the enhanced new rates on sacrificial animals at Bakra Piri by mutual consent of cattle traders and the Baldia town committee.

A writ petition was filed by the cattle traders association of Bakra Piri complaining that the Baldia town committee had increased the rates for goats and sheep from Rs 5 to Rs 150 per head; for cows, buffaloes. etc. from Rs 10 to Rs 250; and for camels to Rs 500 for 25 days before and after Eidul Azha.

It said the raise was unprecedented. The municipal committee, which has been superseded by the town committee, charges Rs 1 for goat and sheep and Rs 3 for cows and buffaloes round the year.

The Malir Town committee still charges Rs 2 and Rs 5, respectively, for small and big cattle. The rate increase would cause a considerable rise in the prices of sacrificial animals on the eve of Eidul Azha, it stated.

After hearing the counsel for the petitioners and the town committee, a division bench, comprising Justices S. Ahmed Sarwana and Mujibullah Siddiqui, passed a consent order revising the rates for 25 days. The new rates are Rs 50 per goat or sheep; Rs 150 for per cow or buffalo; and Rs 250 per head for camels.