Expansion of liquor ban soughtd

A writ petition filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a ban on consumption of liquor throughout the year, except on religious events of minorities.

The petitioner implored the court that non-Muslims should be allowed to consume liquor only for their religious events, after they file an advance request along with supporting evidence from their religious organisations.

The provincial government was made respondent through the chief secretary, director general excise and taxation, and directors and collectors of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan. The managements of nine local hotels were also made respondents in the case.

The petitioner contended that there is no provision under section 17 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979 which allows a legal possibility for granting general licences to a hotel or other shop owner to operate throughout the year but the respondents are selling wine throughout the year in contravention of the provision as well as the terms of their licence.

“They are not only selling liquor to non-Muslims but also to Muslims every day in guise of the licence,” he stated, praying to the court to cancel their licences.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2020.