SC issues interim order to reopen wine shops in Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday issued an interim order to reopen wine shops in Sindh which had been sealed last month in light of the Sindh High Court orders. 

During proceedings Justice Saqib Nisar asked under which laws the licenses were issued to wine shops. Responding to Justice Nisar's remarks the legal counsel Shahid Hamid informed the bench that licenses were issued under Article 17. 

Justice Nisar further remarked whether alcohol was being imported into the country. 

Earlier in October, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had ordered the provincial government to shut down and revoke licenses of all liquor shops operating in the province. 

During the hearing, the DG Excise and Taxation department submitted its report stating that presently there are 59 registered wine shops operating in the city on which the court expressed its concerns remarking that it seems that there are more wine shops in Karachi than the number of non-Muslims in the metropolis.

SHC Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who was heading the bench, remarked that so much liquor was being sold in Karachi that "minority communities can bathe in it".

The bench was hearing a petition filed by citizens Muhammad Zafar Muavia and Shehryar David, which pleaded that as per rules wine shops should not be allowed in Muslim vicinities but many licenses have been issued for opening liquor shops in the areas where non-Muslims are not in majority, which is in violation of rules.

The court ordered the Director-General of the Sindh Excise and Taxation Department to initiate the process of revoking licenses of all 120 wine shops granted in violation of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order 1979.

The court directed the director general to ensure issuance of notices to liquor shop owners in connection with cancellation of their licenses.