NA bill seeks to end alcohol exemption for non-Muslims

A lawmaker belonging to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has submitted a constitutional amendment bill in the National Assembly Secretariat seeking a nationwide ban on alcohol, including for non-Muslims, by removing the existing religious exemption from the Constitution. According to details, JUI-F's Naeema Kishwar Khan has proposed an amendment to Article 37 of the Constitution, which currently provides a limited exception regarding alcohol consumption for non-Muslims. The bill, titled "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2026," states that it is intended "further to amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan". The proposed amendment specifically calls for the omission of the words: "and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes" from paragraph (h) of Article 37. The bill clearly states: "In paragraph (h) of the said Article the words 'and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes', shall be omitted." If enacted, the amendment would effectively remove the constitutional basis for granting permits or exemptions to non-Muslims for the consumption of alcohol, leading to a complete prohibition across the country without religious distinction. The bill's "Statement of Objects and Reasons" argues that alcohol is forbidden in all religions and that associating its consumption with religious minorities is unjust. "Alcoholic liquor is prohibited in every religion, so it is unjust to the religious minorities of the country to tag them with alcoholic liquor." The document further invokes constitutional provisions concerning Islamic injunctions. It references Article 227, stating that "all existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah". "It is matter of fact that Islam does not allow to a Muslim State to issue permits of liquor on the Non-Muslim, where they themselves denies to consume liquor as their religion." The bill also notes that it "shall come into force at once" upon enactment.

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