KARACHI, Aug 10: The divisional intelligence staff of the Excise department on Tuesday raided a school garage in Issa Nagri and after recovering 1,236 bottles of Pakistani liquor and beer from a Suzuki, arrested a man.

According to the Excise officials, the garage belongs to a former MPA, Michael Javed, while the vehicle (KG-9031) has been registered in the name of the MPA's wife.

When interrogated, the arrested accused, Yusuf Masih, informed that he was an employee of Mr Javed, who also owned the school, the Excise officials added. The Excise staff also recovered registration papers of the vehicle, a copy of Mr Javed's NIC, along with cheque books and other documents from the vehicle.

The provincial advisor, Excise, M A Jalil, appreciated the Excise Staff and said that steps were being taken for eradication of liquor smuggling from Sindh, and instructions had been issued to officers concerned in this regard.

He said that besides action against narcotic trafficking, the Excise department was also taking steps to check the marketing of fake liquor. Meanwhile, the divisonal Excise officials, when contacted, told PPI that Mr Javed also owned a licensed wine shop in Issa Nagri, and the raid was conducted and FIR registered, as under the law the liquor could not be stored at a place other than the licensed premises. -APP/PPI