A lawmaker belonging to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) has tabled a constitutional amendment bill in the National Assembly Secretariat seeking a complete ban on alcohol across the country by ending the existing religious exemption for non-Muslims.
Member of the National Assembly Naeema Kishwar Khan has proposed changes to Article 37 of the Constitution. At present, the article allows an exception for alcohol consumption “in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes.”
The proposed legislation titled “The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2026,” calls for the removal of the words “and, in the case of non-Muslims, religious purposes” from paragraph (h) of Article 37. The bill clearly states that in paragraph (h) of the said Article, the specified words “shall be omitted.”
If approved by Parliament, the amendment would end the constitutional provision that allows alcohol permits or exemptions for non-Muslims, leading to a blanket prohibition without any religious distinction.
In the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the bill maintains that alcohol is forbidden in all religions and argues that associating its consumption with religious minorities is unfair.
The document also cites Article 227 of the Constitution, which requires all existing laws to comply with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah. It further states that the amendment will take effect immediately once it is enacted.