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ISLAMABAD: The National assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights on Monday opposed a proposal to withdraw an exemption allowing the drinking of alcohol by non-Muslims in Pakistan.
This was decided in the meeting of the committee which met under the chairmanship of MNA Mamhood Bashir Virk and was attended by its members along with officials of the ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights.
JUI-F MNA Maulana Mohammad Shirani said that parliament should impose a ban on the drinking of alcohol by non-Muslims and that such an exemption provided in the law should be withdrawn.
An official of the ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights told committee members that it was written in the Constitution that there will be no restriction on the drinking of alcohol by non-Muslims and that it is also part of the Hudood Ordinance.
Members of the committee showed their concerns on the move of Maulana Mohammad Shirani regarding the proposed ban.
Committee Chairman Mahmood Bashir Virk said that the government should first make efforts to control alcohol drinking by Muslims.
“The world already considers Pakistani as a conservative nation,” Virk said.
Committee members stated that such a move would create a bad image of Pakistan in the world.
Members of the committee voiced their opposition to the proposed amendment in the law.
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Comments (60) Closed
Jul 21, 2014 07:23pm
I would like to ask these Maulanas, what if Muslims living in non-Muslim countries are banned from praying and are forced to eat pork and drink alcohol? Frankly, it's none of your business how people lead their lives. God did not send you as His enforcer on Earth.
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Jul 21, 2014 07:27pm
Sanity prevailed.
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Jul 21, 2014 07:27pm
These Maulanas should make themselves useful and go fight Israel which is their duty instead of worrying about trivial matters. People should call them out on it every time they come up with these topics.
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Jul 21, 2014 07:29pm
What kind of good are JUI doing for Islam by asking for a ban to alcohol for non-Muslims as though non-Muslims don
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Jul 21, 2014 07:54pm
Good move by NA.
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Jul 21, 2014 08:09pm
Minorities are already deprived of their many basic rights in Pakistan. I think right now Pakistan has more important issues than usage of alcohol by non-Muslims. Muslims enjoy all basic human & religious rights in west, They should follow the footsteps and create a open and friendly atmosphere for non-Muslims.
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Jul 21, 2014 08:18pm
Good move. What an idiotic measure to ban alcohol to non Muslims. Their life is their business. Sale of alcohol to Muslims shouldnt be banned either. Its between man and God how he decides to live his life. Those who care for their maximum health and life would know the detrimental effects of alcohol -physically, mentally. The state's job is to SERVE the people and work for us -not be telling us how to live our lives and controlling everything we do
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Jul 21, 2014 08:29pm
Legalize it. Regulate it. Tax it. And tax it high.
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Jul 21, 2014 08:42pm
Should be ban.
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Jul 21, 2014 08:48pm
Wonderful that our Parliament has nothing better to debate rather than this. Mullahs...focus on education, enlightenment, healthcare, development. These are also Jihad.
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Jul 21, 2014 08:50pm
For all the Molana bashers, i undertstand that we don't have any right stopping someone living a life as they wish as it should be that way, but shouldn't NA make sure that Alcohol is only sold by non-muslims also
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Jul 21, 2014 09:04pm
Come Ataturk ! there is a great need for another ship to be burned.
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Jul 21, 2014 09:07pm
we should first make efforts to control it from muslims then it may be the turn of non-muslims.
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Jul 21, 2014 09:08pm
Respect the non Muslims and their values.
I believe this is quite Logical and liberal.
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Jul 21, 2014 09:11pm
Send Maulana Sahib off to live in a cave somewehere.
The Consitution of Pakistan allows non-muslims the right to privacy, etc. And the Maulana has no right to interfere in the rights of other religions.
In Britain, Muslims are more free to follow their own religion than in most Muslim countries, so why should Pakistan apply sanctions on other religions. Didn't hear the Maulana say ban heroin and other drugs, or are they permissable?
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Jul 21, 2014 09:19pm
Maulana Shirani is blessed with good sense of hummer. Without his jokes our lives would have been so dull.
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Jul 21, 2014 09:30pm
We should impose a ban on JUI
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Jul 21, 2014 09:51pm
@GA
Although I agree that there should be no ban on alcohol for non muslims, but for your information, a lot of bans are imposed on Muslims in so called liberal and advanced nations. e.g. there is ban to wear hajjab in Quebec, Canada, and France. There is movement to stop doing Zabiha in UK and Europe. So don't outcry for nonsense.
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Jul 21, 2014 10:10pm
Unbelievable, Do these maulvis know no limits?
What about foreigners who by some misfortune have landed in Pak? What law, for example, would cover alcohol usage by foreign government dignitaries?
In China, they say you aren't true friends with somebody unless you've had a drink together. I remember being mocked by a girl here who somehow found out that there's only one alcohol dealer in Pak.
Sadly,our disconnect from reality continues to increase.
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Jul 21, 2014 10:13pm
We should have Dubai or Malaysia model!!!!
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Jul 21, 2014 10:40pm
@GA
What a wonderful suggestion.
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Jul 21, 2014 10:41pm
Please separate religion from politics and Stop interfering in everyones lives. Live and let Live, Please! Stop taking Pakistan deeper into the dark ages. I thought Taliban rule ended.
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Jul 21, 2014 10:49pm
its double standard for JUI , Then why oppose ban of burqa in france ?
Respect the differences.Let the Tolerance prevail.
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Jul 21, 2014 11:09pm
It is not the business of government to ensure that citizens are meeting their religious requirements. The religion is between man and God. As a matter of fact no restrictions should be placed on manufacturing or import of alcohol. People should have individual freedom to decide for themselves. Government should stay out of religion and of monitoring of the religious compliance.
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Jul 21, 2014 11:26pm
@GA What rubbish! Countries impose ban on drugs, cigarettes, etc. Alcohol is s drug. ban it!
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Jul 21, 2014 11:41pm
@GA if France can ban a burqa, Pakistan can ban alcohol.
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Jul 21, 2014 11:44pm
@M aslam The ban is not on Muslims...the ban is on a certain type of activity mostly associated with Muslims. There is a difference here. Get your facts right.
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Jul 22, 2014 12:11am
@Moiz Omar
Completely agree with you. Alcohol in Pakistan is available to all Muslims and non Muslims whether legally or illegally. Makes no sense to bury your head in the sand. Legalization and regulating it will not only control its consumption under the law, but also generate enormous amount of revenue in taxes.
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Jul 22, 2014 12:18am
Let them ban the alcohol consumption totally. That would be a great help for heroin dealers. Thank you.
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Jul 22, 2014 01:15am
Pakistan is sinking day by day as the people , youth, politicians instead of prospering through education, technology are becoming more rlegious fanatics.As rightly said by Hassan Nisar, muslims did not cotribute any thing to the world and future is very bleak
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Jul 22, 2014 01:21am
These handful of Mullahs are holding entire nation hostage. I don't know what will be day when we'll get rid of them. Nation is going through all sorts of crisis. Be it Economy, Power, Law and Order, Insurgency, Terrorism, Street Crime, all sort of. And all we read in head lines is:
Parliament to ban alcohol even for non Muslims.
PM formed a committee for 14th August celebrations.
Dilip Kumar's House in Peshawar to be transformed into National Heritage or something similar.
and list goes on.
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Jul 22, 2014 01:34am
@Sonny Afridi agree with you absolutly my friend. why can't these people spend their energy on something more constructive, like providing education to the masses.
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Jul 22, 2014 01:35am
Alcohol should be widely available to any religion who consider it their religious right.Bhang is considered to be religious right by many muslims darveshs at durbars.Heroin is up til now nobody's religious right but should be arranged for any religion if they claim it yo be their religious right.
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Jul 22, 2014 01:57am
Islam guarantees the right to privacy and also the right to practice your faith without persecution. These Maulanas use every trick in the book to stay relevant and seek to control gullible people - especially Muslims in Pakistan. But thanks to the internet these Maulanas are gradually being exposed as Munafiqs
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Jul 22, 2014 02:04am
These rich politician drinks own and not allowing people to drink, All singer drink whisky to make voice more good, M. Rafi of India also use to drink. Why not to us. I don't drink everyday but once a week but you know what it remembers me my days in Karachi college engineering batchmate. I love to drink beer and vodka. these stupids want to leave in UK & USA but not to take their any rules and regulation.
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Jul 22, 2014 02:32am
@M aslam - Ban on full face covering is not because of Muslim issue in those countries. It
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Jul 22, 2014 02:38am
@Moin Sufi - that's a very Sufi thing to do...Well done!
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Jul 22, 2014 03:25am
@Moiz Omar
So just the elite can enjoy yet another thing exclusively??
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Jul 22, 2014 03:26am
is alcohol consumption banned in Pakistan ??? at least not in Peshawar university's hostel blocks....(sarcasm detected)
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Jul 22, 2014 03:32am
Alcohol has been in consumed in Pakistan by locals in vast and shocking proportions for years! Many in the civil service desperately crave invitations to Diplomatic functions only to have unlimited amounts of liquor. Many members of the middle class drink daily in their homes not to mention the social set. In villages people drink indigenously fermented alcohol. Murree Brewery now makes vodka apart from beer. All the consumers are Pakistani. The bootlegging business thrives in Pakistan. Who is kidding who here?
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Jul 22, 2014 04:16am
Very sad time is being wasted on non-issues, non-Muslims have equal rights and can enjoy their life according to their believes the real issue is that even these Maulanas are twisting principles of Islam according to their own needs, they should be taken to task.
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Jul 22, 2014 04:26am
As Pakistan really has any kind of positive image in the world! What about putting these worthless mullahs to some kind of work? Off course, they cannot do anything beyond trivial.
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Jul 22, 2014 04:34am
Islamic law can't be applied to non-muslims, whats wrong with these Maulanas?
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Jul 22, 2014 04:54am
How about the consumptions by the members? I guess sharia allows them
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Jul 22, 2014 05:01am
@Shamoon I like the jock wonderfull
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Jul 22, 2014 05:09am
This shows the priorities of this National Assembly.Suffice to say these are totally unrelated to the peoples priorities.
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Jul 22, 2014 05:09am
@Moin Sufi i like this one ex Karanchiwala
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Jul 22, 2014 06:44am
@M aslam you should look a bit deeper, nowhere do the bans there target or mention religion. The zabiha debate has been going on for a long time and is based on reasons of being humane, the hijab etc bans are for security reasons and include ALL religions. We are amongst the few nations that keep calling out rules and regulations specifically for religion.
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Jul 22, 2014 10:12am
@GA Drinking alcohol is not a religious obligation except a minute quantity for Catholic service, that could be exempted. Many countries ban narcotics, alcohol is worst than marijuana. Banning alcohol will be a right step to protect the non-Muslim communities from adverse affects of the drug.
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Jul 22, 2014 10:14am
@Moiz Omar - You have my vote.
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Jul 22, 2014 11:09am
NA committee oppose ban on alcohol consumption by non-Muslims... off course they will oppose or else how they will get it...folks...Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, corruption, ignorance, greed and love of power and that is the fundamental evil of our country and no wants to talk about it...
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Jul 22, 2014 11:20am
It is a very sensitive matter and should be left with the rulers of the time. Though it is disheartening to observe the statement that implies that Pakistan
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Jul 22, 2014 11:37am
@GA Hello?! Does banning on wearing hijabs by European countries and Institutions rings a bell?
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Jul 22, 2014 12:41pm
The let the sanity prevail. Non-Muslims may consume alcohol but strict measures to prevent Muslims from getting easy access to alcohol may be enforced. The reason to prevent them from consuming alcohol is; they go tipsy and resort to crimes. Majority of the crime was committed by Muslims under the influence of alcohol; both heinous and non-heinous and domestic or street. Non-Muslims consume alcohol as part of their culture but Muslims for fun and the consequences as evidences put it are spooky.
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Jul 22, 2014 01:46pm
@Nadeem Mirza ; Helloooo, wearing Burka is a matter of national security for European countries, whereas consumption of alcohol is a national concern of interest. Do you get the difference? Better you get.
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Jul 22, 2014 01:47pm
@Moby you are the best example of a confused nation.
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Jul 22, 2014 02:34pm
Why NA is opposing ban of alcohol for Non-Muslims? For their information, use of alcohol in Non-Muslims is also religiously banned. So NA should not oppose. As far as the immage of Pakistan in International Community is concerned, it has also been diminished because of the committments of our Prime Minister and some of the NA Members' personal character.
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Jul 22, 2014 11:49pm
If someone (Muslim) uses a non-Muslim to buy alcohol for him what is the check for such circumscription of rule?
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Jul 23, 2014 11:33am
@Mohammed Hanif
Wait for few years ,they will demand it in USA ,UK and other countries also.
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Jul 23, 2014 01:45pm
@M.Saeed This is exactly Omanis do in Muscat. They use the alcohol permits of their non-Muslim friends to buy alcohol.
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