The end is near: Ahmad Ali Butt, Bilal Qureshi disgruntled as liquor store opens in Saudi Arabia

In a historic development, the announcement of a liquor store opening in Saudi Arabia has sparked criticism, particularly among Muslims who hold the country sacred due to its role as the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina.

After film festivals and concerts, Saudi Arabia, for the first time in over 70 years, allowed liquor consumption in the kingdom for non-Muslim diplomats, according to news sources. 

These bold initiatives, including the introduction of leisure and entertainment activities, align with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's efforts to transform Saudi Arabia into a tourism and business hub, marking a significant departure from its once-ultraconservative stance.

These measures have surprised Muslims globally, as the country had previously imposed stringent restrictions on such pomp and stateliness.

The opening of a liquor store in Riyadh triggered a backlash from Muslims, who perceive the Saudi government's actions as warning signs of the doomsday mentioned in the holy scriptures of Islam.

Actor Ahmad Ali Butt termed this recent development as indicative of the approaching day of judgment, stating, "The end is near."

Bilal Qureshi took to his Instagram story to express his disillusionment with the news as someone who grew up in Saudi Arabia. "I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. I could never imagine this would happen there," wrote the actor on his Instagram Story.

"The store sits next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a socially sensitive topic in Saudi Arabia. The diplomat walked through the store Wednesday, describing it as similar to an upscale duty-free shop at a major international airport," Voice of America reported.