SHC seeks details of sale, supply of 11 liquor shops

Additional advocate general says that out of 75 wine shops in Sindh, 59 are functional in Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday directed an official of the excise and taxation department to submit details of the sale and supply of 11 liquor shops situated in DHA and Clifton.

The directive came on a petition of Shaharyar David seeking cancellation of wine shops licences in the two areas.

The petitioner submitted that wine shops’ licences were supposed to be issued to retailers to sell alcohol in Christian and Hindu localities.

He submitted that four liquor shops were operating in DHA phases V and VI, which were Muslim populated areas; hence, there was no justification for running the shops in the areas.  He submitted that the wine shops were illegally operating in those areas and requested the court to direct the excise department to submit details of the licences granted to retailers in Clifton and Defence, and cancel them.

Additional advocate general Mustafa Mahesar submitted that out of 75 wine shops 59 were functional in Karachi. He submitted that 24 of them were located in district South, whereas 11 were in DHA and Clifton areas.  The court inquired, from the provincial law officer, the criteria on which the licences were issued to wine shops since there was no majority of Christian and Hindu communities in these areas.

The law officer submitted that licences were issued after completing the formalities required under the law. He submitted that there were no separate colonies for Hindu and Christian communities in DHA and Clifton besides diplomatic staff of foreign countries as well as foreign companies were also residing in the areas.

The AAG was directed to ensure appearance of representative of provincial election commission along with record of minorities in district South including DHA and Clifton, and sought details of the sale and supply of the 11 liquor shops by October 18.