Selling liquor: Uptown restaurant raided, owner held

Police say the restaurant does not have permit to sell alcohol.

ISLAMABAD:

The owner of Luna Caprice, an uptown Italian restaurant opposite Super Market in sector F-6, was arrested on Thursday night for selling liquor. In addition to the owner, an Italian national, the city police also arrested the restaurant’s manager and headwaiter.

The Kohsar police said the three were booked for illegally selling and serving liquor to everyone openly, which is banned under the law. Police said they also confiscated 200 bottles of imported liquor from the restaurant.

A police official said that SP (City) Capt (R) Muhammad Illyas, DSP (City) Liaqat Niazi and the AC (City) went to the restaurant in plain clothes after they received a tip-off about the liquor business.

The restaurant’s management served them liquor on their insistence after which the police officials waiting outside were called in.

A police officer said no restaurant in Islamabad has the permit to sell liquor except Marriott, Serena and Best Western. They, too, are allowed to serve liquor only to non-Muslims who possess permits for purchasing liquor.

Kohsar police said they were also investigating why the lady’s car bore red registration plates. A police official said red number plates were allowed only to diplomats, which the owner is not.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2012.