Sindh High Court orders shutdown of liquor shops

SHC bench observes only non-Muslims could be provided liquor for consumption for religious ceremonies

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday directed the head of the Excise and Taxation Department to begin the process of revoking licences granted to wine shops throughout the province, observing they had been granted illegally.



Hearing a petition filed against wine shops operating in the posh neighbourhoods of Karachi, SHC Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah observed that there was no provision under Section 17 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979 which allowed granting of general licences to liquor shops to sell alcoholic beverages throughout the year.

SHC bench observes that only non-Muslims could be provided liquor for consumption, that too only for religious ceremonies after they had filed a request in advance along with supporting evidence from their religious bodies.



In his petition seeking cancellation of licence granted to wine shops in Defence and Clifton neighbourhoods, petitioner Shaharyar David contended that the shops were operating in Muslim-populated areas without any justification. He requested that the court direct the Excise and Taxation department to submit details of the licences granted to wine shops and cancel them.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2016.