ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has expressed shock over the death of 16 people after consuming poisonous liquor in different parts of Hyderabad in Sindh during Eid days.

The deceased included five persons of a family. According to press reports, liquor was openly sold in the city both at licensed and unlicensed outlets on the eve of Eid and Deewali with the connivance of the police. Even paint shops in Hyderabad sold spirit in large quantities at exorbitant rates for use as liquor under the nose of local administration, the reports said.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, PPP Central Information Secretary Taj Haider said it was shocking that the provincial government was sleeping as unscrupulous people were trading in poison and people were dying because of it.

He said the chief minister was busy celebrating Eid in his village and no provincial minister not even local administration officials visited those in hospital or took any action against the culprits who sold poisonous liquor to the people.

Not a word of remorse or anguish let alone a visit to hospital by the chief minister or any functionary of the government demonstrates the apathy of the rulers, he added.

Mr Haider said unscrupulous people sold substandard liquor on festive occasions and it was the responsibility of the government to anticipate and take appropriate measures.

He said some years ago when a similar incident occurred in Hyderabad, senior police officers were immediately suspended and an inquiry was ordered. "The failure of the provincial government to anticipate and take preventive measures is criminal."

The PPP leader demanded that an immediate and thorough probe be launched into the incident and asked for action against those responsible for dereliction of duty.