The petitioners submitted that the business of the wine stores was affecting Muslim families in the city.
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) restrained the secretary Sindh excise and taxation department on Tuesday from issuing sale permits for liquor to shops near educational institutions and religious places till further orders.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, heard three identical petitions filed by NGOs seeking ban on permits for public sale of liquor. The petitioners submitted that the business of the wine stores was affecting Muslim families in the city. They said that many wine shops have opened in the areas thickly populated with Muslims, which is a violation of the Islamic principles. It was stated that wine is an alcoholic substance which not only harms the body of an individual, but also damages the institution of family and society.
They submitted that licenses are being issued for new wine shops around the educational institutions and religious places. The petitioners said that the Sindh excise and taxation department had moved two summaries to the chief minister for imposing ban on further issuances of liquor licenses and for shifting the wines stores.
They claimed that the outgoing government has discarded the summary of imposing ban on issuance of new permits and has issued numerous licenses against the public policy.
The petitioners requested the court to ban open sale of liquor and direct the respondent officials to stop trade of liquor in Muslim localities. The court was also asked to restrain respondents from issuing further permits for wine shops.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2013.
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