Hindu MNA's Bill to Ban Alcohol, Rejected by Muslim MNAs (PPP, PMLN), in National Assembly, Pakistan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member of the National Assembly, a Hindu lawmaker Dr Ramesh Kumar called for introducing strict laws to ban sale of alcohol in the name of any religion, in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday rejected the cancellation of alcohol permit bill which was presented by the government with the support of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) but was opposed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).



Ramesh Kumar, while seeking permission for the presentation of the bill to make amendment in Article 37, said that since the alcohol is prohibited in all religions including Islam, Hinduism and Christianity so its permit must be abrogated.

The bill seeks an amendment to the Article 37 of the Constitution.

A section of the Article states,

The State shall prevent the consumption of alcoholic liquor otherwise than for medicinal and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes”.



According to details, the NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Sori had rejected the bill as the bill was opposed by the majority of the house.



Reportedly, when PTI and MMA demanded re-voting after the denunciation of the bill, opposition walked out declaring it a violation of the code of conduct.

Talking to media persons outside Parliament House, Kumar said unfortunately a number of people had got the license for alcohol business in the name of Hindu religion, which was unacceptable.

In 2014 when Kumra was also the MNA had said alcohol is strictly forbidden according to the teachings of the Shrimad Baghwat Piran – a Hindu holy book, while also emphasising that decision makers (MNAs) or other higher-ups in the community are prohibited to drink under any circumstances.

The PTI lawmaker said that strict action should be taken against people involved in such businesses using the name of different religions.