Pakistan - Sindh CM displeased over police failure to prevent illegal liquor business

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, taking serious notice of deaths due to consumption of contaminated liquor at Karachi and Hyderabad, has ordered suspension of concerned police and Excise officers.

Presiding over a meeting on Thursday, the chief minister expressed displeasure over the performance of district and Excise police for their failure in preventing, marketing of homemade liquor within their areas.

He ordered suspension of six SHOs – four from Karachi and two from Hyderabad – two DSPs from Karachi and two Excise directors – one each from Karachi and Hyderabad – with immediate effects for their negligence.

He also constituted two separate inquiry committees each for Hyderabad and Karachi incidents. He appointed DIG Police Hyderabad Sanaullah Abbasi as head of inquiry committee for Hyderabad and DIG East Muneer Shaikh for Karachi cmmittee to probe into the matter, fix responsibility and submit findings within three days.

The Chief Minister said that no one would be allowed to play with the health, lives and property of the poor people. He said that findings of inquiry committees whosoever is found responsible would be taken to task. He also advised the general public, elected representatives and opinion leaders of society to keep vigil on such illegal activities, peddling of drugs, and intimate the administration of the area or at least to the Complaint Cell at CM House so that prompt and strict action could be taken against those responsible and precious lives of the people could be saved.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government decided to launch a crackdown on makers of toxic liquor across the province.

Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana chaired a meeting of senior officials of the provincial government following a tragedy in Karachi in which dozens of people died after consuming toxic liquor during Eid holidays.

The meeting decided to launch a crackdown on the makers and suppliers of toxic liquor in Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities of Sindh. The government also decided to lodge murder cases against these elements while investigations would also be held against license holders of methyl chemical suppliers.

The chief secretary also suspended excise officials of areas from where deaths have been reported.