Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court was informed on Thursday that the provincial authorities have shut down all the wine shops across the province.

The provincial law officer told the court that following its order the provincial police chief had issued directives to the DIGs, SSPs and the SHOs of the police stations across the province to ensure implementation of the order.

Assistant Advocate General Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar verbally communicated to the judges that two police men will be posted at every wine shop till the legal formalities for cancellation of its license is completed.

Excise and taxation department’s director general Muhammad Shoib Ahmed Siddiqui issued a notification, ordering the regional directors to ensure the closure of all wine shops in entire Sindh without failure. They were further advised to ensure the fulfillment of all legal formalities before the closure of wine shops.

At the outset of the hearing, the religious figures from Hindu, Christian and Sikh community told the judges that this was a false pretext that their religions allowed consumption of wine on special occasions. There was a bar on its consumption in their religions also, they added.

Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who headed the division bench, questioned under what law wine shops were allowed to operate throughout the year if no religion permits it consumption. He observed that liquor licenses were issued in violation of the laws.

The bench directed the provincial authorities to ensure closure of all wine shops across the province and submit compliance report later today.

The court was hearing a set of petitions seeking cancellation of the licenses of the liquor shops being operated in Muslim-majority areas.

The high court had earlier directed the excise and taxation department’s director general to initiate the process of revoking liquor licenses granted in violation of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979.

The bench questioned the grant of liquor licenses and observed that as per Article 17 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979, the licenses may be issued for manufacture, import, or sale of liquor on the ground that such liquor is required for consumption by non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan as a part of their religious ceremonies.

Nadra submitted a report showing the details of the minorities’ population in the city. According to the report, 2809 Christians and 2572 Hindu reside in Central district, 69820 Christians and 13356 Hindus in East, 16329 Christians and 8877 Hindus in Malir, 57568 Christians and 43143 Hindus in South, 24406 Christians and 4422 Hindus in West.

The excise and taxation department submitted a report that there are 120 liquor shops across the province. Of the 120 shops, 59 are in Karachi. Eleven shops are being operated in Karachi’s DHA and Clifton areas.

Citing the provincial home secretary, the excise and taxation departments’ director general and M/s Lucky Traders as respondents, petitioner Muhammad Zafar Mavia had submitted that M/s Lucky Traders was granted a license by the excise and taxation department to run a liquor shop in Korangi area. However, it was shifted to North Karachi’s Sector H, which is a Muslim-majority area

‘The open sale of liquor would cause public nuisance as the majority of the people living in the locality are Muslims,’ he said while requesting the court to order cancellation of the license of the liquor shop.