Toxic alcohol kills 17 people in Pakistan

Toxic alcohol has killed at least 17 people in the past four days in the Sindh province of Pakistan resulting in the arrests of approximately 150 buyers and sellers.

At least 17 people have been confirmed dead after drinking toxic alcohol in Pakistan

A further six patients are currently receiving treatment for consumption of the liquor while officials say the unconfirmed number of deaths is almost double the official tool, although these are yet to be verified by examination The Express Tribune reported.

However, most of the families are apparently hesitating to come forward and register a First Information Report (FIR) on the deaths, most of which occurred in Hyderabad’s rural areas.

The regional excise director plus seven station house officers (SHOs) have been suspended, a spokesman for senior superintendent Pir Fareed Sarhindi told the news site.

Officers have lodged 20 FIRs so far and listed 22 suspects in the case, some of whom have been identified in several FIRs, in eight police stations.

They have been charged under Sections 3/4 of PEHO, which can result in up to eight years in jail, however the conviction rate is very low.

The deputy inspector general Dr Sanaullah Abbasi warned the SHOs they would be suspended, booked in the FIRs and jailed if the illicit alcohol or victims were found in their region.

“Our intelligence team will map out the illegal liquor sales locations and this will be followed by a province-wide crackdown,” said secretary excise Abdul Majeed Pathan.

Last October, more than 40 people died from drinking toxic alcohol in India, while another 50 were left in “critical” conditions.