Death toll reaches 45 in Pak liquor tragedy

The death toll from the spurious liquor tragedy in Pakistan's southern Sindh province during Holi celebrations has reached 45 including 35 Hindus.
The victims died as a result of consuming toxic liquor in the Tando Muhammad Khan district near Hyderabad city since Monday night.
Senior police official, Munir Ahmed said from Hyderabad that the official death toll was 45 while 32 other victims are still under treatment in hospitals.
He however conceded that the death toll could be higher as in some cases some people had died at their homes but their families did not report the deaths to the police for fear of arrest or prosecution.

"Of the dead, 35 members of the Hindu community including some women have had their final burial rites carried out," he said.
According to the deputy commissioner of Tando Muhammad Khan, Agha Abdul Rahim some 122 people most of them Hindus had fallen ill since Monday night after consuming the tainted liquor allegedly sold by Ali Nawaz Panhwar, the prime suspect in the FIR who has yet to be arrested.

"The Hindus were getting ready to celebrate their Holi festival," he confirmed and added the victims were brought from different places in Tando Muhammad Khan.
Sindh Excise Minister Gianchand Essrani said that a province-wide crackdown had started against the sale of moonshine liquor.

He announced Rs 200,000 compensation for the deceased.
Alcohol consumption is banned in Pakistan for Muslims but non-Muslims are allowed a ration of liquor which is sold at special wine shops run by the provincial excise departments under government control.
The latest incident is reminiscent of a similar tragedy that took place in Hyderabad and Karachi in late 2014 during Eid ul Azha celebrations when 29 people had died after consuming toxic moonshine.