Citizens want SHC to relocate liquor shops

HYDERABAD: After failing to budge the local authorities through protests and complaints, some residents of Qasimabad town of Hyderabad approached the Sindh High Court pleading that wine shops be relocated.

The court put on Friday the respondents from the excise, police and district administration on notice for January 17.

The petitioners, Nadir Ali, Hassan Ansari and Kamran Khan, pleaded that the shops in main Qasimabad and Citizen Colony Road have been operating openly in residential and commercial areas. "There are many apartments, bungalows, markets, schools, tuition centres and clinics in the vicinity."

Citing violation of the relevant laws, they argued that the shops also attract criminals and violent people. "Drunken people are often seen walking on the streets where many families live in flats and bungalows."

They blamed the police and excise officials of connivance in the wine shops' business and alleged that police officers posted in Qasimabad began harassing the petitioners after they filed complaints to their departments.

According to the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979, the liquor shops cannot carry out their business in the settled areas.