Islamabad 4 Hotels Licensed to Sell Alcohol |The Untold Stories Behind Them

The federal government has issued licenses to sell alcohol to 4 hotels in the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad. These hotels include Marriott, Serena, Best Western, and Move and Pick… Let’s get a little introduction of them.

Serena Hotel:
This hotel is owned by the family of Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect. Its management is operated through a company named Serena Hotels Group Tourism Promotion Services (TPS Serena) listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) in Kenya.

Marriott Hotel:
The owner of this hotel is Sadruddin Hashwani. He belongs to the Khoja Ismaili sect and is said to be a major financer of their religious affairs. Sadruddin Hashwani’s grandfather migrated from Iran to present-day Pakistan along with Aga Khan III.

Best Western Hotel:
This hotel is owned by a person named Waqas Khan. He is a former member of the National Assembly and the current husband of Federal Ombudsperson for Harassment Kashmala Tariq. Kashmala Tariq was first elected to the National Assembly from Q League. Today she is said to be associated with Muslim League-N.

Move and Pick:
This hotel is owned by Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Coordinator for Tourism to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce. His family has a quite strong religious background. His elder brother and former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, is educated in a religious seminary. Their father Sardar Ilyas, who holds decisive authority in family and business matters, is said to be a five-time daily prayer performer.

Read more

DG ISPR’s stern message and once again clouds of war in South Asia