Sindh govt ordered to shutdown liquor shops

KARACHI (92 News) – The Sindh High Court has on Tuesday ordered the provincial government to immediately shutdown all liquor shops operating in the province. Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who headed a division bench heard a petition seeking cancellation of the license of a liquor shop being operated in Karachi. The court ordered Director General Excise to recall the licenses of all liquor shops and wine can be supplied on religious minorities festivities. The court further said that the license to liquor shops throughout a year is illegal. Previously, the SHC had directed provincial authorities to disclose what criterion is used for issuing licenses to liquor shops. The court had also directed the provincial election commission to submit details of Muslims and minorities in the city's posh neighborhoods where eleven liquor shops are being run. The petitioner stated the open selling of liquor would create chaos as the majority of the people living in the locality are Muslims.