When contacted to get his comments, the director general excise and taxation Qurban Khoso only said, “Be fearful of God!” and then declined to offer any comments.
The liquor licences had not been issued since the dismissal of the Liaquat Ali Jatoi government 11 years ago and there had been a ban on opening of the new wine shops. Jatoi had issued two licences during his tenure, but once his administration was sent packing more than a dozen licences were cancelled.
However, the sources said, the present government has started issuing these licences to favour influential provincial ministers and important personalities. In the past, new permits had been used as a powerful tool to buy political loyalties of MPAs, mostly during the periods of former chief ministers Jam Sadiq Ali and Syed Abdullah Shah.
The sources said former provincial ministers for excise and taxation, Shabbir Ahmad Qaimkhani and Rauf Siddiqui, refused to issue new licences despite heavy pressure. But sitting minister Mukesh Chawla succumbed to the pressure and has started issuing the permits.
According to the sources, the final authority to issue a new permit for liquor lies with the chief minister. Licences for two shops have been issued formally while the approval process for another 20 is held up for mere formalities.
The Daily Express also tried to contact the provincial minister Mukesh Chawla to learn his point of view on the subject, but his cell-phone was powered off.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2010.
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