The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday was informed by the provincial government that all wine shops across Sindh have been sealed following its orders. Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar, the provincial law officer, submitted the compliance report on behalf of excise and taxation department's director general to the division bench headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah.
He informed the judges that the government, complying with its orders, had sealed all liquor shops throughout the province and the record regarding their sale and stock was taken into custody. Earlier on Thursday, the court had directed the excise and taxation department's DG to immediately seal all the liquor shops operating in violation of the Hudood Ordinance 1979 and submit compliance report.
The court also gave the Sindh government 30 days to come up with a mechanism in consultation with the stakeholders, including members of non-Muslim communities and wine shop owners, to ensure that a practical, transparent and viable mechanism is put forward, so that only the licensed wine shops will sell wine and liquor to non-Muslims locals and foreigners in limited quantities on occasion of their religious ceremonies. "A proper record of these sales be made, which record shall be available to the public," the order read.