Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court directed the excise and taxation department’s director general on Tuesday to initiate the process of revoking liquor licenses granted in violation of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979.

It ordered the director general to ensure issuance of notices to liquor shop owners in connection with cancellation of their licenses within two days.

These directions came on a petition seeking cancellation of the licenses of the liquor shops being operated Muslim-majority areas. The hearing was put off till October 26.

Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who headed the division bench, questioned under what law licenses for running liquor shops have been issued. 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 a religious ceremony, he explained.

When asked, the excise and taxation department’s director general he told the judges that any non-Muslim can purchase sixteen bottles of bear and eight of wine in a month. “The non-Muslims cannot consume 10 percent of the quota. Even they cannot afford it. That’s why many people consume toxic liquor and die,” remarked the chief justice.

He asked the director general when liquor is required to be consumed by non-Mulims in their religious ceremonies why licenses were issued to a large number of liquor shops.

The director general replied the wine shops were being run since long. In order to discourage the opening of wine shops, license fee was also increased to Rs70000. In compliance of the court’s previous order, he submitted a report explaining the procedure for the grant of liquor licenses.

Nadra has submitted a report showing the details of the Muslims and 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.

During previous hearing, the court had demanded from the provincial authorities the details of criterion used for issuing licenses for running a liquor shop.

The excise and taxation department had informed the judges 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 licence 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 licence of the liquor shop.