October 24, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 30, 1427

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VEHARI, Oct 23: Liquor sale is at its peak in the district as in many other parts of the province, as more and more people turn to some local manufacturers just ahead of Eidul Fitr.

The district administration and police have failed to take any effective steps to nip the evil which gains momentum during Eid days.

The illegal trade has its roots in many parts of the district, including Luddan, Machiwal, Gagoo, Mitroo, Grahamore, Chakrala, Karampur, Tibba Sultanpur, Jallajeem, Dokota, Muslim Town, Pipli adda, Sheikh Afzal, Sahooka, 9-11/WB and Thingi Colony where dozens of small factories remain operative the whole year through.

A survey conducted by this correspondent reveals that people in rural areas are making money out of the trade, as they prepare alcohol based on substandard ingredients in their mud-houses.

A liquor trader from Kehror Pakka said he had been arrested by the police several times on the complaints of his rivals.

However, all he had to do to get away with any action was pay Rs500 and few bottles of fine-quality liquor to the law enforcers.

Making no secret of his trade, he further said he and his business partner paid a monthly amount to the local police to run their business in the city and other areas of Vehari district. He said he had been running the business for the last 10 years and the sale of liquor picked up during Eid days.

“Officials of the district administration, landlords of Mailsi, Vehari, Khanewal and other adjoining areas, some politicians and commoners are among his customers who get a bottle of fine-quality liquor for Rs300 to Rs400. Some customers demand foreign brands which he readily makes available at a higher price.

Another liquor trader, who belongs to the minority community, feels no qualms of conscience in selling off the illegal product claiming that he and his family had 12 permits and stocked all their quotas of liquor for the last six months to make a buck fast on Eid.

A liquor factory owner of Jallajeem rural area said a few days ago the police raided his factory and took all the manufacturing stuff into possession, but he was let off the hook after few hours on the intervention of an influential figure.

A majority of the liquor traders, he said, were enjoying blessings of the bigwigs whom they provided liquor free of cost.

When contacted, a policeman told this correspondent that the police had arrested hundreds of traders and registered cases against them during the last one year, but the menace required much more efforts to be extirpated.

He said scores of shops, including medical stores and homoeopathic centres, sold liquor under the garb of medicines.

Answering a question, he said hardly 200 of the traders had been issued licences and they belonged to the minority communities.

It is pertinent to mention that several people fell unconscious after taking poisonous liquor in various parts of the district during last Eid holidays.

In 2003, on the occasion of Eid, eight people lost their lives after the consumption of the liquor in various parts of the district.

Another police official said it was the excise department’s duty to make sure that only non-Muslims were issued the permits.

“The police do their duty whenever they receive information about any such illegal activity; there is no question of promoting the trade as has been alleged.”