Karachi
The Sindh High Court directed the provincial law officer on Friday to file a detailed report on a petition regarding the death of over 50 people after consuming toxic liquor in Karachi and Hyderabad in the first week of October last year.
The petitioner, Rana Faizul Hasan, sought action against the officials concerned for their failure in stopping the manufacturing and selling of toxic liquor that caused the deaths.
He submitted that the manufacturing and selling of toxic and illegal liquor was continuing in different parts of the city including Mehmoodabad, Chanesar Goth, Asoo Goth, Malir, Ibrahim Hyderi, Pak Colony and Mangophir despite the fact that 70 or 80 people died every year and several lost their eyesight because of its consumption.
He criticised the provincial government for its failure in controlling the illegal manufacturing and selling of liquor and submitted that criminal proceedings should be initiated against the officers concerned.
Citing the health, home, excise and taxation secretaries, the IGP and the DIG Hyderabad as respondents, the court was prayed to call a report from the authorities concerned on the deaths and direct the government to ban the manufacturing and selling of toxic liquor.
An SHC division bench headed by Chief Justice Faisal Arab directed the provincial law officer to file a detailed report.
Plea for by-polls
The high court repeated notices to the election commission, the Sindh Assembly speaker and others on a petition seeking by-polls for three provincial constituencies in Karachi following the resignation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPAs.