ISLAMABAD:
A lawmaker belonging to the 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 exemption regarding alcohol consumption for non-Muslims.
The bill, titled “The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2026,” states that it is intended to “further amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
The proposed amendment specifically calls for the deletion of the words: “and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes” from clause (h) of Article 37.
The bill clearly states: “In subsection (h) of the said article, the words “and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes” shall be omitted.”
If passed, 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 ban across the country without religious distinction.
The bill’s “Statement of Objects and Reasons” argues that alcohol is prohibited in all religions and that it is unfair to associate its consumption with religious minorities. “Alcoholic liquor is prohibited in every religion, so it is unfair to the country’s religious minorities to label them with alcoholic liquor.”
The document further invokes constitutional provisions regarding Islamic injunctions. It refers to Article 227 which states that “all existing laws shall be brought into conformity with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah”.
“It is a fact that Islam does not permit a Muslim state to issue liquor licenses to non-Muslims where they themselves refuse to consume liquor as their religion.”
The bill also notes that it “shall take effect immediately” upon passage.
