KARACHI: A division bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) Tuesday ordered to initiate the process of recalling licenses granted to liquor shops in violation of the provisions of Article 17.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulfiqar Khan after hearing the Constitution Petition ordered the Director General Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Sindh to ensure issuing of notices to all such liquor shops throughout the province within two days and action in accordance with law as explained hereinabove be taken and report compliance to this court on October 26, 2016.
The bench observed that Article 17 only provides possibility of sale of liquor and wine on religious occasions of non-Muslim citizens and for non-Muslim foreigners. This supports our view that the licenses granted to the wine shops have resulted in throughout the year supply of liquor which appears to be in absolute violation of the possibility envisaged Article 17 of the Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, 1979.
The bench observed that there were no provisions in the law that permit general licenses awarded to liquor shops to stock liquor for sale round the year, which is at presently occurring admittedly unabated.
The bench put off further hearing of the case till October 26.
