Pakistan

'New wine shops, conspiracy to destroy youth'

JI Karachi claims that the permission for 50 new wine shops is a conspiracy to ruin the future of the youth of Karachi.

Ppi July 16, 2010

KARACHI: Giving permission to open more than 50 new wine shops in Karachi is a deep conspiracy to ruin the future of youth of this financial, trade and industrial lifeline of Pakistan, and if the government failed to withdraw the licenses of these new wine shops, the enraged people of Karachi would be compelled to raze these wine shops, warned Jamaat e Islami (JI) Karachi.

JI Karachi secretary general Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that there is no precedent in the history of Pakistan to give permission to open wine shops in such a large number in Muslim dominated localities. He recalled that last time, 15 years ago, the then regime had issued 22 licenses to wine shops in one go in Karachi.

He said that the population of minorities living in Karachi is not large enough to justify the opening of 50 new wine shops. He said that allowing so many wine shops to operate in purely Muslim localities is a deep conspiracy and the whole nation should take a serious notice of this sad state of affairs.

Rehman said that some hidden hands want to spoil Pakistani youth and promote alcoholism in them, which is highly condemnable. He regretted that the rulers of an Islamic republic are patronizing alcoholism and drug culture instead of promoting Islamic values and culture.

He said that there is no place of wine shops in any Muslim society. He also said that there has already been a rising trend of crime in the areas where wine shops are operating. He said that he respects the rights of minorities, but promoting alcoholism in Muslim youth in the name of minorities' rights could not be tolerated.

He warned that a serious unrest is simmering in Muslim dominated localities where the imprudent rulers had allowed permissions to open new wine shops. He said that if the government failed to realize the gravity of this sensitive issue and cancel the new licenses of wine shops the people would be justified to take the matter in their own hands.

He demanded the sacking of provincial minister for excise and taxation and withdrawing permissions for opening of new wine shops in Karachi.

COMMENTS (112)

Liaquat Ali | 14 years ago | Reply No alcohol. This is a horrible idea.

Angleos | 14 years ago | Reply @all "i m being rational" nation: show me any example from Prophet time or time of four Caliphs where they allowed thing like that to be sold? if you dont have any example then for god sake, THIS IS A MUSLIM COUNTRY with 97% MUSLIMS!!!!! Something being done wrong dosnt mean we should also make it an excuse for other wrong things, get over your tax, hypocrisy crap.

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Habibies | 14 years ago | Reply Shame on Our Government and Responsible People... Pakistan is Islamic Country... X-(

mak009x | 14 years ago | Reply "There will be people from my ummah who will seek to validate the use of musical instruments, fornication and wine"-- Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)

Kyzer | 14 years ago | Reply "You Without Sin Cast the First Stone" - The Last Temptation of Christ I fully agree with the motion to have more than just the Muree variety (although very good) available to us corrupted and morally bankrupt heathens. Where are the bottles of Absolut's, Smirnoff's, Jack Daniel's, Teacher's, Starbucks liqueur (yes they make some VERY delicious coffee flavoured ones), Absinthe. Ahh yes.. they are probably bought by the rich landlords and govt. officials and they have them on tap I'm sure. So be progressive, don't talk about burning lest you be burned yourself.. The amount of growing frustrations our poor people go through FULLY justifies their indulgence in a little alcoholic relief if they so choose. No electricity for 8 hours? Prices of eggs, bread and daal's have doubled? Had to wait for 2 hours on your bike in the searing heat while some bureaucrat's motorcade was crossing the flyover? Take a break my weary and frustrated masses of this nation! Don't listen to cap-wearing, white bearded hypocrites.

Safieh | 14 years ago | Reply Just because it exists, that doesn't mean anyone is being forced to drink. I think the wine shops are a good idea, Pakistanis need to learnt to be more tolerant and stronger towards handling temptation. There is alcohol in countries' with more Muslims than Pakistan has (and for expats and minorities in Muslim countries) and they don't care...Doesn't mean they are drinking like maniacs just because it exists! The way to stop yourself is not to remove the temptation. If you have a strong faith temptation can be resisted and should be and your faith strengthens. Only those with weak faith get so scared, because they are worried about having to actually control their impulses. JI scared are you? Interestingly, the youth is armed to its teeth with guns in Karachi as it is, I don't see anyone getting all upset about that!? Alcohol is the least of our problems, what with us being one of the leading countries in corruption, drug problems (some idiot once remarked, "so what, drugs are not AS forbidden in the Quran!") infant mortality and a plethora of up and coming issues like we're soon going to be as badly starved for clean drinking water as sub-Saharan Africa...But yes, lets get upset about ALCOHOL. Hey JI check it out I have a solution for you: They want to drink, let them, there will no water for them to rehydrate and they'll die. Tadaa! There JI I just came up with a solution for you. That way all the drinkers you so vehemently hate will die for their sinful ways and the wine shops will shut down because of lack of business. Khush?

AliHatesYourHate | 14 years ago | Reply You guys really need to calm down with the preaching. Why is the concept of choice so terrifying to the religious? I thought religion was all about the choices you make, and you couldn't have social laws dragging you into heaven. Why is it that the religious are always more interested in what other people are doing? Don't like alcohol? Don't buy it. But don't turn it into another issue for you to rant and rave about. A country like pakistan has much bigger things to deal with, rampant poverty, political corruption, illiteracy, insurgents and a power crisis being just a few of them. But no, instead lets listen to the hatemongers at the JUI and lets get all worked up about people choosing to drink in the privacy of their own homes.

Shahid | 14 years ago | Reply JI know nothing but to criticise the government!!! They don't have guts to win election in Karachi and take out their frustrations through these kind of statements and rallies.... The wine shops can't compell people to buy wine forcibly exactly the way thousands of Masjids in Karachi can't pull Namazis in... My message to them is to win election and change whatever they want to till them just shut their mouth!

loobs | 14 years ago | Reply Listen I don't know about you guys, but what's a Sunday without a beer. Nobodys getting drunk or crunk. Nothings being violated. As to the technical dilemna of the JI interfering, lets take a little peak inside the 'wine-shop' might i suggest to be called a 'booze shop'. Our local booze shops, be it a 50 or 100, sell locally manufactured alcohol. Murree Brewery. Thanks to our drunk govt. and maybe the clandestinely drunk JI associates, went unnoticed of the fact that they better be hunting down on the roots if they have to get rid of what they pretend. They choose to play with their favorite toy, reverse psychology. Turn it all on the poor people, who feel congested in this society, for consuming what it being liberally sold by the friends of the govt. and JI. Thanks and April Fool to you too JI!

Saleem | 14 years ago | Reply Wine is permitted in UAE,Bharain,Oman,Syria,Turkey,Malaysia,Indonesia,Egypt,Iraq,Bangladesh,etc in every restaurant and in these countries it is even available in grocery shops.So it depends upon the human being whether he wants to drink or not.Compelling somebody not to drink will push him to drink more.What about tobacco in pan and opium and hashish which is easily available in every corner of Pakistan?

Narejo | 14 years ago | Reply No one drinks wine in Pakistan. Most people drink whisky and bear. Why are the alcohol shops still called wine shops !!

ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply @rabia some people obviously would commit crime because of alcohol...but western societies are largely crime free. There's no connection between alcohol and other vices. Most of the crimes and vices are present in muslim societies where alcohol is banned.

cidpusa | 14 years ago | Reply Wine leads to Crime Do Not Drink Wine This is only allowed in Heavens where a river of wine flows

Shugufta Solangi Chandio | 14 years ago | Reply @Hyder Cheema, we be poppin bottles Why new wine shops, instead money should be spent on R&D to improve the quality of the alcohol so we be buzzing long time. Is this "satire"??

Babar Javed | 14 years ago | Reply I would like to thank the Tribune for introducing me to Haris Chaudry's awesome insight and analytical skills regarding this whole mess. I move for him to write for the Tribune. Not being paid to write this :-)

mohsin | 14 years ago | Reply Hi, Look around, lot many people drink on regular basis, have parties every night. Alcohol is freely available under the counter. Everyone should decide for himself. JI should also motivate people toward "FARZ" activities i.e. namaz instead of gaining milage on petty issues.

Mommy-A | 14 years ago | Reply Umair and Saira should be held up as examples of what is really wrong with our youth today. They need a Vegas intervention, pronto.

Ahmadh | 14 years ago | Reply It is so simple that our religion forbid it. How can one say that its ok.

Schazad | 14 years ago | Reply I wonder when people live in west, they have everything available open to public and everyone including Muslims have access to alcohol. Who wants to buy could go and buy it at their own will but if I think its not good for me or forbidden in my religion shouldn't go and thats about it. Banning everything is not a solution. Regulating everything kills the whole purpose of democracy.

Hyder Cheema | 14 years ago | Reply Mmm...Can't WAIT to get drunk and roam about on the streets of Karachi. :)

anon | 14 years ago | Reply What 50 for Karachi and none for Lahore? Discrimination I say! Where's my share of 'conspiracy to corrupt youth'?

Ben | 14 years ago | Reply In early 70s when Bhutto had yet not succumbed to Mullah pressure to order banning of alcohol, whenever there was a procession against USA or West on Lahore Mall, activists of JI's student wing IJT would invariably attack wine shops and loot bottles. They would also attack British Council library and take away expensive books. This was their way of protesting against West. These wine shops opened now would also be looted in the same manner. By the way why don't they attack banks who are involved in usury which is worst crime than selling alcohol as per Islamic teachings. We accuse USA and West of hypocrisy but I think we are greater champions of this art. Related story at: link text

Haris Chaudhry | 14 years ago | Reply @ anum Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Pakistan had licensed alcohol outlets, bars, nightclubs and the like however there were no largely visible adverse social impacts during that time... Think about it and ask yourself why..? Look at the crime statistics - we had far less violence, intolerance, discrimination, rapes and murders when the alcohol outlets were omnipresent compared to now, so what has changed and what affect alcohol has had on the outcome of visible social issues. Actually - none.. I have visited Pakistan often and guess what I notice the most.. ? On the front page of the largest cicrculating dailies are the advertisements from alcohol abuse clinics advertising their services - Now ask yourself this question: If there is wide enough alcohol abuse amongst certain section of the society to merit alcohol rehabilitation centres advertising their services to such a wide market in the absence of 'wine-shops', so how easily alcohol can get accessed by people who want to drink it ? I would say, really easily and what would change if there are new licensed outlets ? Probably not much. Our current problems are not the result of presence or absence of alcohol outlets nor will they aggravate if there are more licensed outlets. The only effect it is going to have is that the government will start collecting taxes and cops wont get a take of it by catching people with alcohol. Violence and skullduggery, self victimisation and blaming US, Europe and Israel for all our ills, refusing to accept responsibility and judging everyones else on the basis of their 'religosity' has created a double standard in the psyche of our nation. Those double standards are now embedded within us and are reflective in our personal character and the character of this nation. Remember, alcohol in Pakistan is just a phone call away and probably more accessible then what non-drinkers might believe in and more expensive than if it was selling at licensed venues.

Yousuf Nazar | 14 years ago | Reply Wine should be allowed to be sold throughout the country in every city. Only four countries Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Sudan have had prohibition but the rest of the world including large Muslim countries like Indonesia and Malaysia have moved on. Pakistani notion that alcohol is a dangerous vice is apparently not shared by five and half billion people in rest of the world. We seem to think we know something that the rest of the world does not. Alcoholism is bad but the idea that it should be banned belongs to the ancient past and should be buried.

anum | 14 years ago | Reply @ waqqas Thats the problem, theres no one to jail the violators or implement the fines man. There is no law in our part of the world. We just have double standards.

Dr. Asad Sadick, Germany | 14 years ago | Reply If a wine shop turns out to be a lucarative business will depend on supply and demand...basics of marketing and sales. And if it is lucarative then we have added taxes which the Pakistani`s dont like paying anyways. So whats the problem? What has all this to do with religion.

Waqqas Iftikhar | 14 years ago | Reply @ Saira, yes every country has a set of rules but the more developed ones don't have rules that blatantly legislate people's social and personal lives unless they directly end up killing people - point taken on drunk driving, my view is that such prohibition increases rather than decreases crime and allows unscrupulous elements to earn money illegally without paying any taxes on the consumption of such items. Would be better served if the govt discouraged drinking by fines/jails for drunk driving and heavy taxation of alcohol

Sharjeel Jawaid | 14 years ago | Reply While I am not for giving the liquor industry an open license to grow in the neighborhood, I do not agree that merely the opening of a few additional outlets is going to corrupt our youth. If corruption of youth could be accomplished by some wine / liquor outlets, all such places where they exist would have been the towers of corruption. I have lived in Germany, but have witnessed high positive and eastern values in most of the people I have interacted with; although the smallest of the villages there could not be called complete without a pub. Many practicing Muslims in Pakistan seek the matrimonial matches for their children in Europe and North America. Certainly all of them would not be corrupt, just by living in a society where liquor is freely available. I still recall my friends from Europe who did not drink. Some were only beer fans, but refrained from hard liquor. Some of my friends were astonished to have been informed that liquor has been available in countries like Saudi Arabia and Libya despite having extreme legal penalties for drinking. Only the price commensurate to the market had to be paid. It is freely available today in our brotherly gulf states. We perhaps fail to understand that corruption comes from the top. Our society is based on double standards [munafiqat]. A father lies while filing his tax returns but simultaneously expects that his children will grow up honest! Are the Corrupt Government Offices which we have to deal with on a daily basis, not greater bastions of corruptions in collaboration with the tax thiefs among us! Why blame the wine shop!

Sidra | 14 years ago | Reply Our society is too premature to handle such responsibility, before encouraging this act, think about the people who already suffer through the hands of the influential and connected class. Your law does not apply to them. Then add a 1000 more who will access these shops and perhaps indulge in lewd or dangerous behaviour. Develop your society first to bring it par with your Dubai and Jordan examples, and then perhaps allow the the licenses. Look at what you're arguing for atleast, another evil in the land of the evil!

anum | 14 years ago | Reply Plus those countries you mentioned, atleast there is effective accountability and implementation of law, look at pakistan, the conditions. These people dont deserve these rights and freedom. Drunk driving will claim so many more lives, eve teasing, sexual harassment, they will become increasingly rampant, all without the law touching these elite.

anum | 14 years ago | Reply @ Haris Chaudry and others, What you've pointed out is correct, that other muslim countries function perfectly. but look at pakistan, we are a society with plenty more evils rooted in, a nurse gets raped, a 4 year old gets raped and killed, so i think by allowing alcohol to flow freely is inviting even more evil. You spoke of dubai and malaysia examples of muslim countries where muslims are free to do indulge as they please but good muslims dont. agreed 100%. But pakistan has alot more of the variety that nobody would categorise as good, and hence if those people start drinking, god knows what happens. your nation should be educated and humane enough to bear responsibility for its actions. pakistan mein loag khullam khulla peenay pillanay lag gaye tou phir pata nahi kia ho!

anum | 14 years ago | Reply Again it is not about legalising or violating freedom of choice, rights etc, i agree that people who want to drink will drink, but people who are thinking of drinking or just want to test it out, this lack of barriers and easy accessibility will not just serve the people who already drink, but cater to those individuals, who never did simply because they were not as tempted by it to go through the hassle. So by increasing the shops, you are increasing accessibility. We are a muslim majority nation, those who drink, they still are withoug these 50 shops right? why open more, it will only increase the population that drinks. I think this move should be condemned. as someone said above, call me a fundamentalist or terrorist, i dont care!

Saira | 14 years ago | Reply @ Waqqas: I agree that the junkies would be there regardless of legality. My point is not marijuana or heroin but the fact that there is a need for rules. Every country has a set of them. Making each of them an issue of 'human rights violation' or 'freedom of expression' would eventually make everything permissible - which should not be the case.

Gulabo | 14 years ago | Reply @ Umair. I eat people like you for breakfast. This is no filmi scene, stop being so dramatic. Live and let live, how ignorant can you be, we are here to influence others (in a good or bad way, depends on your beliefs), we dont believe in violence, you talk about violence as if that is not haram in Islam. Get a life and go find your self another country to be burning wine shops. Stop tryign so hard to write comments, keep em to yourself Peace

temporal | 14 years ago | Reply chris:

Over my many years here I have noticed, when drinking particularly with Muslims, that they drink to get drunk, rather than drink as an adjunct to a social activity. The majority have not learned how to drink in a socially acceptable manner and quickly get beyond themselves. Not a pretty sight.

agree fully...this has been my observation too those who drink will find the bootleggers wine shop or no wine shop! even in gen. zina's daur e jahiliya in karachi a uniformed major used to supply the ordered drinks digression: the govt. gets no tax revenues from bootlegged liquor...through the wine shops they do get it and as someone suggested earlier...whether through wine shops or through other means...the supply never stops

Waqqas Iftikhar | 14 years ago | Reply @ Umair, you sure this ain't a wind up?, because if it isn't then you have been hangin out with the talitubbies too long

Anonymous | 14 years ago | Reply @ Umair so will you start consuming alcohol if the wine shops open? or do you want to burn them down because you won't be able to resist your temptation? their is no point of trying to act pure if you can't say no to what's wrong when it's in your face. I personally don't drink either, but I don't judge people because they do, try and follow a more moderate line... if you want to stand up for islam, listen to its first and foremost message, a message that advocates peace, so learn to co exist with others peacefully and stop judging them for minor things.

Anonymous | 14 years ago | Reply First of all, the whole minority rights to consume alcohol excuse is completely rubbish. The majority population, has a much higher number of people that consume alcohol. Under current circumstances alcohol is consumed 'illegaly' in our pure country, and the govt doesn't receive any benefits for it, only the people at customs do, in the form of bottles or other benefits. Why not legalize it to reduce the corruption level at the airports and tax it at the same time to make money off it. Saying that alcohol is haram is another useless excuse. Interest has harsher punishments mentioned for it than the consumption of alcohol does, have we banned the use of interest? no. So then why alcohol? Rishwat is worse than alcohol, we all know how deep rooted rishwat is in any pakistani system, no point in trying to hide it. The facts are simple, pakistan govt should legalize alocohol and start making some form of revenue on it, muslim or not muslim it shouldn't matter. Religion is a personal matter, the understanding of faith is something that doesn't merely get passed on, you acquire it, so just because we have a 97% muslim population on paper doesn't mean all 97% of them actually adhere to the rules that Islam has laid out. I personally don't consume alocohol, but because its so freely available illegaly anyway, why not tax it?

Haris Chaudhry | 14 years ago | Reply Umair - you are the typical stereotype of what is wrong with Pakistan. Islam was around when the alcohol outlets, discos and nightclubs were not banned until late 70s. Infact there were more good quality muslims in this land of pure back then than what they are now. Have you travelled outside Pakistan..? Go and see how muslims cope in India, Malaysia, Jordan, Syria, Indonesia, Algeria, Turkey and Dubai and countless other nations where you get 'wine-shops', nightclubs and bars. Religion is between you and the lord. And what the hell you are on about the red-light districts..? They are omnipresent in the land of pure. Havent you heard about the establishments in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad , Hyderabad etc.? Surely, you could not be so naive.. Burning down the shops as you suggest is called 'violence'. No one burns them in any muslim countries yet the muslims there seem to have no problems following their religion and god and praying 5 times without the threat of harrassment. Without these 'wineshops', we are apt at harrassing females in the markets and bus stops and everywhere we get the opportunity.. This happens mostly in Pakistan. I am yet to travel to any muslim or for that matter non muslim countries where women are ogled by men with such ferocity as I see in Pakistan. I am yet to see any other country where killings of ones own family members are condoned under the guise of honour. You must open your eyes to the reality and try to identify the 'real' reasons behind the degeneration of a society as ours rather than threatening to burn them. This mindset is the hallmark of a bigoted, intolerant and spiteful individual. Too many of you and we have a disaster on our hands - as we already do perhaps..

Umair | 14 years ago | Reply Simply burn down these damn shops, as a Muslim it is an insult to me. If we dont stand up against the opening of wine shops, tommorow they will open up a red light district, and then a prostitution centre and strip club and bars etc. But in a Muslim country, there will always be Muslims who will stand up for Islam no matter how few they are. In this case let me be a fundamentalist and terrorist, I will be proud of it. Nip the evil in the bud, open up Islamic libraries, live life according to Islam. One who drinks alcohol destroys his life and the lives of others around him. An abusive husband and father resorts to domestic violence against his family members. Go back to the core Islamic laws, anyone who is found to be dealing in wine, retailing, carrying, drinking should be lashed.

Shugufta Solangi Chandio | 14 years ago | Reply And by the way its the media that destroys the youth, control the media, control the mind. Conspiracy to destory youth, this is all being done for money rather than your conspiracies. There no board meetings for how to get little kids addicted to alcohol, its purely business

wineisfine | 14 years ago | Reply So JI's still operating on the assumption that if there aren't wine shops people won't buy wine?

Rasheed Zahid | 14 years ago | Reply Not Only Wine Shops but many other things are going wrong & Destroying Youth and Our Upcoming Youth Also :) So You Should Stop Them Also is that possible ask from your self.

Shugufta Solangi Chandio | 14 years ago | Reply Assalam-alikum Sweet!! 50 more wine shop, there are already 5-6 in my area, looks like they'll need a price war to win my loyalty. Muree Brewery Zindabad!! I suggest it is not right to open 50 more local wine shops, rather we should have the imported alcohol at lower prices, I think it is very good from a business point of view. Korean Restaurant is doind very well, their beers are chilled but they sell Chivas etc for 8G's. Anwyays, Peace

Ben Lawrence | 14 years ago | Reply Haris Chaudhry is my hero

Waqqas Iftikhar | 14 years ago | Reply @Saira...Marijuana is actually considered a medicine to be prescribed medically in some states in the US, so if you wanna smoke the mary jane, you might consider going to Cali. Second heroin is class A drug, a hard drug which has tangible harmful effects on the body in that it makes an individual addicted, there is no middle ground with heroin, it leaves you incapable of performing basic motor functions, you see numerous heroin addicts incapable of living normal lives on the streets, how many alcoholics do you see? The worst part is, those alcoholics, junkies, etc will be there regardless of its legality, what you are doing is only helping bootleggers and contraband mafia get richer. @hamza, JI has the right to their opinion and i will defend that right to death but they should not somehow consider that they speak for the masses because they dont. and nobody died and made them custodians of people's morality

Hamza Baloch | 14 years ago | Reply After all the comments i read, i found that "Every one hvae freedom of right to say anything excpest JI" !

Zahid | 14 years ago | Reply Which govt official felt the need to open these shops in KHI ? is there any application came to govt. to open 50 shops ? This is totally unjustified to open these shops.

Saira | 14 years ago | Reply And Mr. Salaar, on what basis have you blandly stated that the kind of people who are against wine shops 'like' to burn girls' schools and CD shops?

Saira | 14 years ago | Reply Lol. Did someone actually say that banning the shops is a violation of human rights? I guess it means that if i'm not allowed to have marijuana or heroin in the UK or US, my basic rights are being violated. It is sad to see that people are actually defending this decision. It must be condemned. It is true that that in Pakistan, there are a million things that are wrong and that nothing is being done about them. However that does NOT mean that we should add another one to that list. I am sure alcohol consumption is widespread in Karachi but the permission grants it legitimacy. After the Hadith quoted by ShahzadA, I do not think there is a need to say more.

RAF | 14 years ago | Reply I totally agree with MR. MAK you have so many things to agree or disagree, in this world lots of other things are bad, like abusing, harass, raping, list go and go on. and add one more things JI never argue about he [PAN SHOP] in pakistan every one know about (GUTKA), IS ALL ABOUT VALUES AND ETHIC YOU ADOPT.

Waqqas Iftikhar | 14 years ago | Reply the post script should read 'fed up' ....apologies.

Waqqas Iftikhar | 14 years ago | Reply @Kill the Idealist and others, How you get to be a 'good' Muslim (whatever that entails) is up to the individual him/her self...and to the dude who said should we legalize killing because people would do it regardless, you do realize that KILLING and having a beer or a bottle of wine are two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT things. I will go slow so as not to tax your b-cells but one actually sees a person or group take another person or group's life while the latter just involves an individual or group drinking a beverage. Like I said, have a sense of perspective, YOU think alcohol is an undesirable thing then fair that is your point of view but other individuals dont have to agree with it nor does the majority have a right to legislate a lifestyle choice for them - the state should not concern itself with the private lives of its citizens (Full disclosure - i dont even drink, just fed of the moralizing over everything, its claustrophobic) and all these islamic republic of pakistan, we are muslims, this is haraam chants sound a bit like the 'mine, mine' brigade of seagulls from finding nemo.

rahim | 14 years ago | Reply wwoohhooooo

Tanweer | 14 years ago | Reply Sindh Govt. plz dont try to be over liberal. It's special feast for the non-muslims even in their own countries. Becasue it's evils are much greater than that of its benefits. Plz dont tear apart your boundaries.

M. Salim | 14 years ago | Reply Another "conspiracy" theory - yes! between PPI (News Agency), JI and The Tribune. No other serious publication has bothered to highlight this trivial news.

Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Well said MAK, agree with you 100 percent -- a cold beer and another one!

rehan | 14 years ago | Reply Wine is bad and prohibited in Islam.Equally prohibited is Intoxication in any form.But the chronic addicts in our 'religious'shrines dare not be touched as they are "DEVOTEES"! . . . .It's all a Tom n Jerry show!

Salaar | 14 years ago | Reply When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Karachi, do as the Karachiites do. If someone doesn't like the idea of wine shops, they can push off to Lahore or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa their kind likes to burn girls' schools and CD-shops. Cheers!

Ayesha | 14 years ago | Reply Please!!! Pakistans not an Islamic state by act. Its just the name. (which I anyways dont agree upon)So 50 or 500 shops wont make a difference! Those who drink will continue drinking, and those who don't won't drink. So whts the uproar about?

lone ranger | 14 years ago | Reply even if ji is so outraged just tell them to post their guards and check the id cards of people who go to drink. if they are muslims dont allow them to drink. still a muslim always has a strong belief,real muslims that is.

Sameer | 14 years ago | Reply That is totally shocking! However few point to make! Someone mentions alcohol should be legalized since Islam there is no compulsion. Well Can you make a case that since in Islam, there is no compulsion, everyone should have option of not paying taxes? Of course not. The verse stating that there is no compulsion actually means no one can force other to become Muslim or change their belief. Rest Allah knows Best

Haris Chaudhry | 14 years ago | Reply What a typical knee-jerk response from the defenders of religion. The expected rejection of these laws and the veiled threat of violence are a typical hallmark of the JI and other religious organisations. Alcohol is freely available in this land of pure. Creating a licensed outlet allows taxes to be collected and by-passes bootleggers and smugglers trying to make a quick buck. Inciting violence for licensed alcohol outlets seem to be a more severe crime in the minds of bigots than karo-kari, rapes, parading naked women in towns, killing of innocent people in suicide bombings, wide-spread bribery and corruption, lynching people alive, mob justice and double standards. Why dont we hear loud pronouncements of retribution from these self-righteous parties with their pious spokespeople when a 14 year old girl gets raped in the slums of karachi and lahore ? Where are the threats from these bigots when the medieval landlords bury women alive on the mere suspicion of adultery, what about the thousands of innocent people who spend decades in prison without being convicted of crime, how about wage jihad to clean our streets of litter and rubbish, why dont they protest in the streets against the maiming and killing of thousands of innocent civilians by the murderous talibans - How pathetic and how so typical of these parties to ignore the elephant in the room and gain traction in the press by issuing these threats of violence. It is indeed a sad state of affairs in a nation when compassion, understanding, tolerance and inclusiveness gives way to self righteousness, violence and messages of hatred and threats against the state-imposed laws by these defenders of faith. Go and wage a war on the very visible ills of the country. Open your eyes to the pain and suffering that is endured by tens of millions of working and poor classes of this land who dont give two hoots about 'wine-shops', but then again that struggle for the rights of the oppressed and jihad to eradicate social ills wont make it to the front page of many local dailies.

mak | 14 years ago | Reply Live and let live! People here are not brain dead..they know what is good and what is not good for them. Freedom of choice needs to prevail. Even a 1000 wine shops should not matter if your believes are clear. Here's to a long life and a merry one A quick death and an easy one A pretty girl and an honest one A cold beer and another one!

Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Banning alcohol was the most cowardly step taken by ZA Bhutto in desperation under the PNA pressure and not because of his belief as he himself was an ardent drinker. Hypocrisy thy name is Pakistan. Then and Now -always!

HT | 14 years ago | Reply I hope you guys know in Pakistan local 'wine' shops have all forms of local alcohol.. Beer, whiskey and vodka.. but NO WINE!! Eventhough it's very good for the heart!! Boo..

Rao Amjad Ali | 14 years ago | Reply For the record, I invite the JI and its affiliates to a debate that was aired on a Pakistani TV channel in which the late Maulana Israr and the venerable Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal concluded that consumption of alcohol is NOT banned in Islam. As several commentators have correctly noted above, the fact is that there is a plethora of historical evidence that indicates that prohibition only increases the use of alcohol as was the case in the US at the turn of the 20th century. And as we well know from many reported cases in Pakistan, especially in the rural areas, that prohibition of alcohol leads to the sale of spurious varieties of alcohol, causing irreparable bodily harm and even death. There are numerous Muslim countries including Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Bangladesh, Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, to name just a few where consumption of alcohol is permitted by law and it is perhaps fair to say that most of these countries operate in a higher moral orbit than Pakistan. I believe that in keeping with the Islamic tradition, matters such as lifting the ban on sale of alcohol in Pakistan should find a place in an open and vigorous public discourse rather than in threats being rifled by one group or another.

SharifL | 14 years ago | Reply X: sad but has nothing to do with this topic. Or are you saying that these people went to karachi, drank a lot of alcohol and that is the reason for this terror?

Opinionated Journalist | 14 years ago | Reply The Express Tribune website is great, but I don't understand why there's so much sub-standard journalism floating around. Stuff like this really ought to be in a personal blog or something. Just because what you've written interests you doesn't mean it's newsworthy. Try the Newlsine website - recently found it but it's really well-done from the layout to the content. http://www.newslinemagazine.com/

X | 14 years ago | Reply another day in paradise...Shia's gunned down in NWFP, bomb blasts at net cafes in lahore, threats against wine stores in Karachi. And this is actually an ordinary day. Is it Heaven? No, its Pakistan.

M. Salim | 14 years ago | Reply I am writing from Malaysia, a country of devout muslims yet most tolerable to the multi-cultural society here. Most resuarants serve beer and other alcholic drinks and so does the airline. Same applies to adjoining Indonesia - world's biggest Muslim country. The man on the street is unaffected and content. JI should quit the scene or rather focus on curbing "target killings", "sectarian conflcits", "inter-provincial racial issues", "ethnic strife", etc etc - afflicting the teaming millions. By the way, although they may be called "wine shops" they do not sell wine as such. They only sell local liquor - there is no winery in Pakistan. Soley a brewery and a distillery.

Rabia | 14 years ago | Reply @ahmed..i object to ur last point..the situation in pakistan about these intoxicants is worrisome but even in america ppl break into shops just for the sake of bear..

ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply I suspect that the the arabic words "sukura" and "khamr" have slightly different connotations and labeling the entire alcohol family as haram is irrelevant. Alcohol is present in almost every food item, and what matters is that it has to be above a certain percentage to cause any effect. For e.g. Beer is considered halal in some muslim countries if drunk in small quantities as they cause no intoxication. The stress needs to be on intoxicants rather than blaming a particular intoxicant. Charas and Bhang instantly knock you out, but no one talks about them in terms of halal or haram. Many JI students probably would be fond of such halal intoxicants. Mind you that it is next to impossible to get intoxicated while drinking less alcoholic beverages. I live in the west and i rarely see crime or any other vice which is blamed on alcohol. Meanwhile in Pakistan, heroin and charas addicts openly commit crime by stealing mobile phones. Lets face it, being civilized has nothing really to do with alcohol.

ARF | 14 years ago | Reply Where is your self control? Just because there is a shop opened doesn't mean you have to visit it. There are other Muslim countries in the world where alcohol is sold openly. Are those then not proper Muslim countries? Its all about self restraint. Practice restraint and nothing will go wrong. And if anyone is trying to imply that Muslims will start drinking because of these wine shops - then those people are so ignorant. There are a million ways to aquire alcohol and immaterial of whether these shops are there or not those people who want to indulge will do so.

S. Ali Raza | 14 years ago | Reply what about www.murreebrewery.com? does JI dare to poke their faces on this? the source maybe?

Tariq | 14 years ago | Reply So what? when there were no wine shops in karachi, wasn't the liquer was available here?!

Colgaze | 14 years ago | Reply @ Chris just for the sake of argument... as you were referring to most Muslims ...drink to get drunk and have not learned to drink in socially acceptable manner......ideally speaking it's not suppose to be socially acceptable activity in a Muslim country...however your observation is correct, obviously this activity is for the entertainment purpose for above mentioned...i mean Alcohol or any drugs are in absolute Prohibition category... with their point of view it's utterly absurd to be drinking socially....i.e. committing a sin without any joy in return ? never the less there is growing trend in Muslim families not necessarily the elite and super rich but even in middle class where drinking is quite a routine....socially !!

Pakistani Aaloo | 14 years ago | Reply How about being good muslims, you just DON'T go to the wine shop?

SharifL | 14 years ago | Reply Here in the west, there are so many outlets for wine and other stuff. Such stuff is even sold in food stores. And yet, very few Muslims drink alcohol. Freedom means the freedom of choice. If you take that away, you force people to a certain life style. that is suppression. Many Pakistanis are hooked to opium and other more damaging drugs. A normal consumption of wine is far less dangerous. In fact scientists claim that those who drink a glass of wine a day, have less chance of a heart attack. Studies have shown that in countries such as France and Italy, which are wind drinkers, the number of heart patients is minimal. I say, do not listen to conservatives, give people the choice. Alternatively ask those trying to flock to west for immigration, stay where you are. Here wine is part of life.

Chris Cork | 14 years ago | Reply Would just like to point out that these shops although called 'wine' shops' do not in fact sell wine - or at least very rarely. Wine is made from grapes which are fermented, and it has a relatively low alcohol content. It comes in three colours - red, white and pink - and is a pleasant social drink. What the 'wine' shops sell is 'spirits' - whisky, gin, vodka or variations thereof that are made from distilled liquids which concentrate the alcohol and raise the alcohol levels far above that of wine. Over my many years here I have noticed, when drinking particularly with Muslims, that they drink to get drunk, rather than drink as an adjunct to a social activity. The majority have not learned how to drink in a socially acceptable manner and quickly get beyond themselves. Not a pretty sight.

Dajjal | 14 years ago | Reply Its not surprising that the religious are up in arms about wine shops destroying the youth... after all, destroying the Youth is the religious organizations job... so its not the wine shops they cant stand, its the competition...

Saleem Khan | 14 years ago | Reply The JI has nothing better to do than objecting to people drinking. It doesn't object to people indulging in bribery, telling lies, hypocrisy, etc which are more vehemently prohibited in Islam than alcohol consumption. After JI partner Zia banned alcohol, Heroin and Hashish and Kalashnikov took over. The JI should use their energies to oppose suicide bombings, heroine, hypocrisy, financial corruption, instead of focusing on alcohol alone, as the afore mentioned ills pose more threat to Islam than Alcohol.

satsuma | 14 years ago | Reply Visit any private party or new year party.The amount of free flowing alchohol proves that there is a market for even 100 shops.so why suchan uproar?? And those who wish to abstain will do so even if there are 500 shops.

ali | 14 years ago | Reply i live in the USA but i donot drink. and i fully support the opening of shops. people should have choice to drink or not drink. we should not force our beliefs on others.

abc | 14 years ago | Reply and not agreeing with dealing with these shops violently, but this decision by the govt is utterly ridiculous. i think they want us to be soo drunk in this country's misery that we the youth cant do anything about it in our drunken state. by that time we'l have too many problems of our own to think about a revolution!

abc | 14 years ago | Reply it is not just about allowing the shops to open. to the people who are saying that a muslim who wants to drink will, and a good muslim wont, true, but the fact is that opening 50 more shops, will make it more accessible, and make people tip over in favour of experimenting with alcohol all the more liklier. hence, when JI says that it will fuel corruption of the youth, i sorta agree with them. when you know you can easily indulge in it, why not? it'l start with one drink and will lead to one too many. as it is, youngsters whether from elitist families of middle class, theyre all spoilt brats who are venturing into drugs. why not alcohol, when it is now easily available. 50 shops is too many!!

Robert Arizona | 14 years ago | Reply Faizan is correct that the number of shops doesn't change people choice to drink. Like Prohibition in the United Sates in the 1920s. We banned alcohol all together and the criminals took over its production and distribution. People simply drank in underground establishments called "speak easies". Many think this period accelerated moral decay. I think if people are responsible, the lack of demand for these shops will decrease there numbers in the coming year. (Full disclosure I am an American wine maker)

Ghausia | 14 years ago | Reply Dear government, get your act together NOW. Love, the enraged masses.

Sym | 14 years ago | Reply JI has nothing more to do except screaming and ranting about this conspiracy and that conspiracy.Why don't they speak and strive against corruption which is so rampant in our country?

cmsarwar | 14 years ago | Reply In stead of getting tense about 50 wine shops the great Jamaat-e Islami should agitate about millions of hungry people who go without food day and night.What about health care,education,clothing,housing and the misery of very existence for majority of our people? When will JI get out of bottle of wine and attend to the real issues.

Zahid | 14 years ago | Reply Gutka and other betel nuts products causing cancer. Jamaat is silent... Pollution from Rickshaw sound and environment they are not worried. They are double faced people.

peacelover | 14 years ago | Reply shame on ji for advocating violence - starkly in contrast with the peaceful principles of islam.

Space Cowboy | 14 years ago | Reply I feel for the poor goats who will now be even more violated by the drunken Pakistani youth. Shame on this government, have they no shame?

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply Licenses to operate wine shops were issued for selling liquor to the non-Muslim community. The wine shop owners sell liquor to every one including the Muslims, whether youth or elderly people. The wine shop owners give Bhatta to the area Police Station so that he should sell the liquor openly and without any fear. Now who is going to take to the task wine shop owners when they are fully protected by the respective area SHO’s?

Hammad Mian | 14 years ago | Reply This is happening in Islamic Jamhooria Pakistan. better to change the name into something else

ShahzadA | 14 years ago | Reply Should we legalize killing or drugs? since people who want to kill or do drugs, will do it one way or the other.

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply Right! As if it was so simple. Close a few shops then what will happen? People who want to drink will find a way to get it, whether legal or illegal. And what do they mean that "a conspiracy against our youth", there is no shortage of grand oldies who tip a glass before they go to bed.

Kill The Idealist | 14 years ago | Reply @Waqqas Iftikhar Yet, Nothing that you people say justifies opening up 50 Wine Shops in The "Islamic" state of Pakistan. Damn the JI but damn this act too. It is simply not befitting !!

Waqqas Iftikhar | 14 years ago | Reply again, the JI moralizing without looking into the mirror, you cannot prohibit people from doing things, there was prohibition in the United States which actually gave birth to the Mafia, Capone et al. The bootleggers won't be too happy about this. By the way Hafiz sahab, anyone who has a glass of wine does not immediately turn into a ranting, raving alcoholic. There were bars and clubs in this country before Zia's dark days it didn't make people any less Muslim than today

AZ | 14 years ago | Reply In the presence of shop why more points can change our life. If u want to ban on liquor so whole country will be banned.

Scharyar Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Alcohol i banned in every religion, not even Christianity allows it, because of the health trouble and also the moral problems that are being caused by the people using it. Having said that, so are drugs and from health point of view cigarettes and sheesha (1 sheesha for 1 hr = 200 cigarettes). So it all comes down to a persons own will. Every person is answerable to for what he do and how he do it and why he do whatever he wants to do. So I would say let them open as much as they want. Our youngsters have their elders. Its the duty of elders to be so close to their children that they listen to them rather than govt and wine shop people. PEACE

Zarghun Khan | 14 years ago | Reply "There is no compulsion in Islam". The ban on alcohol and imposing moral principles on people is an utter non-sense and violation of human rights. JI has no business to tell people what to do and what not to do. Mullahs have brought the country to the brink of collapse. We must say NOOOOOOOOOO to them, or else we should be ready for a complete destruction. It is "NOW OR NEVER".

Umar | 14 years ago | Reply The JI must have noticed that demand for the products sold by the "wines shops" is among the predominantly muslim areas. Surprise, surprise. Also, a rough demographic estimate would reveal that a very large segment of the "non-muslims" for which the liquor shops allegedly operate simply cannot afford their products. Dare i say, the consumers are almost wholly muslim?

Shahryar Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Please do be too surprised if quiet a few JIT office bearers specially from Commerce College & KU chapters frequently visit these shops. Though 50 shops are way 2 many.

faraz | 14 years ago | Reply What about heroine, a product of Afghan Jihad

Faizan Basit | 14 years ago | Reply I think a good Muslim would never opt for wine even if there are thousands of wine shops in Karachi and the one who wants it can even get it if there is only one secret shop in the whole Karachi. So, i think that this basically depends on the person and his perception. JI Karachi's secretary general Hafiz Naeemur Rehman's concerns are right and logical but not permitting the opening wine shops does not means that the youth would not engage in consumption of alcohol.

Rabz | 14 years ago | Reply Loves the part about enraged masses setting the wine shops on fire

Danish | 14 years ago | Reply "enraged people of Karachi would be compelled to raze these wine shops, warned Jamaat e Islami (JI) Karachi." read Jamat's terrorists.

Sleepless in Karachi | 14 years ago | Reply The wine shops are for non-muslims. So why is the JI worried? Or do they fear that a bottle of wine will create more damage than Zardari and other fundamentalist organizations?

Mustafa | 14 years ago | Reply the Gov couldn't get any more Worse. A disastrous decision permitting Licenses :X

Insanity | 14 years ago | Reply Well, I totally agree to the fact that opening 50 new wine shops in Karachi is unjustified, but the repeatedly highlighted part about the MINORITIES in Karachi is also unjust. We are living in a Muslim dominated state and alcoholism to such an extent is simply not something that would portrait us as a Proper Muslim State. Also, mentioning that the wine shops opened in Karachi and the owners who have been issued these licenses are mainly all MUSLIMS. You'd not find a Minority dealing in this business as frequent as the MAJORITY. So we should not just stress the part of the MINORITIES when the MAJORITY living in this state is directly involved in this business. It’s totally wrong to portrait a negative image about any one, be it MAJORITY or MINORITY..!! And lastly, the govt. should take necessary steps to discontinue these business to such an extent.

ShahzadA | 14 years ago | Reply Allah's Messenger(sallallahu alaiyhi wasallam)cursed ten people in connection with wine: the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it. [Al-Tirmidhi #2776, Narrated Anas ibn Malik(r.a.)] Good on you JI.

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