- Title: Pakistani court closes licensed liquor shops for non-Muslims
- Date: 27th October 2016
- Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (OCTOBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) SYMBOL OF SINDH HIGH COURT ON TOWER OUTSIDE GATES OF THE COURT ADDITIONAL ADVOCATE GENERAL SINDH PROVINCE, GHULAM MUSTAFA MAHESAR, SEATED IN HIS OFFICE. (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) ADDITIONAL ADVOCATE GENERAL SINDH PROVINCE, GHULAM MUSTAFA MAHESAR, SAYING: "The reason behind this decision of the honourable high court is that the wine shops were violating article 17 of the Enforcement of Hud Ordinance 1979. The Court came to the conclusion that the wine shops throughout in Sindh, they are violating these terms, they are violating these sections of this particular law which was enacted during General Zia's rule." PAPERS ON DESK (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) ADDITIONAL ADVOCATE GENERAL SINDH PROVINCE, GHULAM MUSTAFA MAHESAR, SAYING: "According to this law, the wine can only be sold to the non-Muslims, and on their religious ceremonies, when there is any religious ceremony of these minorities groups, and in that ceremony their religion says that they can use wine. This permission was only for that purpose. The court came to the conclusion that these wine shops, which were according to Court were open during all days, and mostly they were selling their liquor and wine and beer to general public, and this was not acceptable to the court." PEOPLE OUTSIDE WINE SHOPS TWO CLOSED WINE SHOPS, WITH COURT NOTICES PASTED ON THEIR CLOSED SHUTTERS VARIOUS OF COURT NOTICE ON SHOP SHUTTER SAYING THE SHOP HAS BENCLOSED ON ORDERS OF THE HIGH COURT SEALED LOCK ON SHUTTER OF WINE SHOP DOORWAY LEADING TO WINE SHOP/ MEN GOING IN AND OUT PEOPLE LOOKING AT SEALED WINE SHOP SEALED LOCK ON SHUTTERS (SOUNDBITE)(Urdu) MANAGER OF PUBLIC COACH SERVICES, SYED WALI SHAH, SAYING: "In the evenings, when customers came here - families, women passengers, or children - they would get disturbed by the drunken brawls here. Families and women come here to leave for Quetta, and they would get very upset. Every day there were brawls; drunken men would be lying around." PEOPLE READING COURT NOTICE ON SHUTTER (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RICKSHAW DRIVER, ASLAM, SAYING: "All those who get drunk and misbehave will learn to manage without alcohol. Those who buy liquor and drink, will now maybe take some groceries home for their children." TRAFFIC ON ROAD
- Embargoed: 11th November 2016 16:04
- Keywords: Pakistan alcohol sindh high court wine shops religious ceremonies law
- Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- City: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA00155S8JET
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Pakistani court on Thursday (October 27) ordered the closure of all liquor shops in the southern province of Sindh, officials said, cutting off one of the few legal alcohol sources in the Muslim-majority country.
Although Pakistani Muslims are banned from drinking alcohol, the country's minorities, mainly Hindus and Christians, face no such prohibition. Critics argue that the licensed liquor shops also sell to Muslims.
"The reason behind this decision of the honourable high court is that the wine shops were violating article 17 of the Enforcement of Hud Ordinance 1979. The Court came to the conclusion that the wine shops throughout in Sindh, they are violating these terms, they are violating these sections of this particular law which was enacted during General Zia's rule," Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar Additional Advocate General Sindh said.
According to Hudood law, passed under former military ruler General Zia ul-Haq, the sale of liquor is for non-Muslims and it is allowed only during religious ceremonies.
"This permission was only for that purpose. The court came to the conclusion that these wine shops, which were according to Court were open during all days, and mostly they were selling their liquor and wine and beer to general public, and this was not acceptable to the court," said Mahesar.
The court case stemmed from a business rivalry among two members of Hindu community who are wine shop owners, with each filing a petition against the other, Mahesar said.
There are 120 retail liquor shops in Sindh, 21 wholesale shops and 20 which were non-operative for some reason, an official at the provincial Excise Department said.
The Excise, Taxation Narcotics Department of Sindh which regulates the liquor shops wasted no time and issued a notification to all businesses on Thursday (October 27) afternoon.
Businessmen working near the wine shops heaved a sigh of relief.
"In the evenings, when customers came here -- families, women passengers, or children - they would get disturbed by the drunken brawls here. Families and women come here to leave for Quetta, and they would get very upset. Every day there were brawls; drunken men would be lying around," said Syed Wali Shah, manager of a nearby public coach service.
"Those who buy liquor and drink, will now maybe take some groceries home for their children," said rickshaw driver Aslam.
It is not clear how the minorities will now buy liquor in the province, home to the teeming financial capital Karachi, with some 20 million people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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