Poisonous booze kills 27
2007-09-21 09:39
Karachi, Pakistan - At least 27 people have died after consuming poisonous alcohol in southern Pakistan, police said on Friday.
The deaths were reported after more than three dozen people were taken to various hospitals in Karachi.
Their relatives told doctors that they had consumed "poisonous alcohol", said Javed Bukhari, the city's police chief. About 10 people are still being treated in hospital and are in stable condition.
Police have detained two men accused of preparing the contaminated alcohol, Bukhari said.
It is illegal for Muslims in Pakistan to drink alcohol, and there are only a handful of licensed producers catering for non-Muslims who make up about five percent of the 160 million population.
However, in practice, some Muslims do drink alcohol, resorting to the black market supplies smuggled from abroad or homemade liquor that is sometimes tainted.
In October, 12 people died after drinking contaminated liquor in the eastern city of Multan.
Drinking alcohol in Pakistan is punishable by caning and three years in jail, although the law is rarely enforced.
- AP