GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Governor Syed Mehdi Shah on Saturday refused to sign Revenue Authority Bill 2022 and returned it to the assembly for review.

According to a press release issued by spokesperson, GB Governor Syed Mehdi has returned the bill to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly for deletion and amendment of the clause of bill related to alcohol and other drugs as they are against Islamic values and social customs.

On August 2, Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly passed the bill titled ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Revenue Authority Bill 2022’, with four opposition members also voting in favour of the bill.

According to the bill, section 2 clause I defines excise duty on alcohol liquor, opium and other narcotics.

Opposition parties had protested against the bill claiming that legislation related to alcohol and other drugs is against Islamic values and demanded to return or amend the controversial clause of the bill.

After the bill was passed by majority in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, it was sent to the governor.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2022