Sale of liquor not permitted under Hudood Ordinance: SHC CJ

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday said the Hudood Ordinance does not allow selling of liquor openly, directing the Advocate General to inform the court about the new legislation for issuing of licenses for wine shops.

“Liquor is being sold openly while the government is sleeping,” remarked the Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah a couple of days after the provincial authorities allowed opening of liquor stores in the light of “Supreme Court’s orders”

“Do not try to shelter under Supreme Court orders. Supreme Court has not declared orders banning liquor stores as illegal,” said the chief justice.   

The judge said the Chief Secretary of the province would be standing in the dock if illegal licenses for liquor stores were issued.

The judge asked the Advocate General to inform the court when would new law under light of section 17 of Hudood Ordinance be drafted. The Advocate General told the court that consultation would be held on the matter with representatives of minorities under 15 days.

When a petitioner told the court that liquor was also being sold to Muslims, the chief justice  inquired why no action was taken by the government over illegal sale to Muslims.

The petitioner informed the court that there were 131 wine shops in Karachi while only 20 such stores exist in Punjab.  The court also sought assistance over the sale of liquor in other federating units of the country.

“Section 17 of Hudood Ordinance does not permit sale of liquor. The liquor stores were opened in the name of minorities but now they are saying they do not consume alcohol. “They are not going to close liquor stores in 200 years,” said the chief justice before adjourning the hearing till December 9.  

Last week, a three-judge bench of the apex court had cancelled Sindh High Court order about the cancellation of licences of wine shops in Sindh.

However, a member of the bench remarked that the Supreme Court order should not be taken to mean that the apex court has granted permission for the sale of alcohol.