Bulletins 1200 27th October 2016

KARACHI: Sindh High Court on Thursday ordered to revoke the licences of all liquor shops across the province, ARY News reported.

Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sajjad Ali Shah issued the order while hearing petitions against illegal wine shops in the province.

The religious leaders of Christian, Sikh and Hindu communities in their statements in the court hearing said that no religion permits the use of liquor. The religious minorities being defamed by issuing the wine permits in their name, they said.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah after the statements ordered Director General Excise Department and I.G. Sindh to ensure revoking the wine shop permits today and a compliance report to the effect be presented to the court.

In a previous hearing of the case, SHC Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah had observed that there was no provision under Section 17 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979 which allowed granting of general licences to liquor shops to sell alcoholic beverages throughout the year.

The bench had also observed that only non-Muslims could be provided liquor for consumption, that too only for religious ceremonies after they had filed a request in advance along with supporting evidence from their religious bodies.