KARACHI: With a second incident of mass deaths caused by toxic liquor consumption within a week in Sindh, both the police and regularity authorities agree that the illegal business thrives with the connivance of their men and after the fresh episode they suspended one each of their officials, it emerged on Wednesday.

The Karachi incident, claiming more than 20 lives, alarmed many in the Sindh power corridors and also caused the police authorities to announce a inquiry committee led by DIG-East Munir Sheikh which in the first phase spotted ‘multiple production facilities and distributors’ of a particular liquor which caused such high casualties.

“We have identified a few spots and people who are responsible for that toxic liquor supply,” DIG Munir Sheikh told Dawn. “Initial findings have convinced us that there are more than one production facility and distributor involved in this particular product and some of them have also been identified. Though the incident is quite tragic and casualties are very high, we don’t think the committee will take more than three days to resolve it and arrest those responsible for it.”

He referred to Sharafi Goth, where ‘most of the liquor production facilities’ had been traced, and the area SHO had been suspended for that reason. He responded in the affirmative when asked about the possible connivance of law enforcers with people involved in the illegal business.

“Definitely one cannot call it ignorance or unawareness. It’s connivance for sure. Apart from looking into mainstream objectives of the incident, we are exploring facts about the area police role and anyone found in this business, one way or another, would definitely face the consequences,” added the DIG.

Earlier, Karachi’s director for excise met the same fate when newly appointed Sindh excise and taxation minister Gayan Chand Asrani suspended him for ‘failing to meet the required level of vigilance and checks on liquor business in the city’ which encouraged the illegal players to share the space.

Mr Asrani, notified to be minister only a day ago after the portfolio was withdrawn from Mukesh Chawla following a similar incident in Hyderabad last week, also called a meeting on Thursday to discuss the two episodes of toxic liquor deaths and trace people within the organisation promoting the illegal business.

“After today’s incident in Karachi, I immediately checked all details of regular liquor supply to licensed stores in major cities,” he said. “It emerged that there is no shortage of branded and quality liquor in the stores as it’s witnessed normally in Ramazan when the stores are closed in the holy month. The two incidents — one each in Hyderabad and Karachi — clearly indicate that there are some elements within our ranks who are deliberately, or due to inefficiency, neglecting this illegal business.”

Only a few days ago some 20 people died after consuming toxic liquor in Hyderabad. A total of 27 suspects were arrested in connection with the liquor deaths while nine liquor dens were ‘destroyed’ by police in raids carried out in different areas of the city.

However, the ‘crackdown’ in Hyderabad failed to discourage illegal business’s players in Karachi, as the provincial regulatory body’s ‘resolve’ to expose those involved in the business after last week’s incident failed to meet reality checks.

“We are coordinating with the Sindh and Karachi police and also enhancing operational capacity of our excise police for joint action against those production facilities and distributors,” said Sindh excise and taxation minister Asrani.

“It’s not the job of any single institution as the job requires coordinated efforts for an effective move. So we are moving forward at a fast pace and you would see there would be ruthless action even against officials found involved.”

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2014