ABDUL WAHID Versus BASHIR AHMAD

There was a pre‑admission hearing ordered in this case. Mian Iqbal Khalid, Advocate has appeared on behalf of the respondent landlord.

2. By the consent of parties, this petition is admitted to a regular hearing and is being disposed of today.

3. The main grievance of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that no order under section 13(6) could be passed by the Rent Controller without first determining the question of jurisdiction which is dependent upon the finding of relationship of landlord and tenant and whether the subject‑matter of the property is such to which the provisions of Rent Restriction Ordinance apply. Mian Iqbal Khalid, learned counsel for the respondent‑landlord states that indeed there appears to be some omission in that respect and therefore fn order to save time and unnecessary protracted litigation, he consents to this writ petition being accepted and the case being remitted to the learned Rent Controller for proceeding with the case from the stage at which he was to determine the question of existence of relationship of landlord and tenant and further a preliminary question whether the plot in dispute was rented out for commercial purpose.

4. I find that the legal position is correctly stated. This has not been adverted to by the Rent Controller. The impugned order is accordingly set aside and the case is remitted to the Rent Controller who shall dispose of the matter finally in accordance with law within a period of three months from this order. In the circumstances, there should be no order as to costs.

H. B. T. Order accordingly