Death Toll Rises to 40 in Pakistan From Tainted Alcohol

22 September 2007 -- Pakistani police reported more deaths Saturday from poisoned bootleg liquor in the port city of Karachi, raising the death toll to at least 40.

Several people are still being treated at a local hospital after consuming the toxic batch of liquor late Thursday.

Liquor is banned for Muslims in Pakistan, although a few shops are allowed to sell alcohol to non-Muslims.

But some Muslims drink alcohol, resorting to black-market supplies smuggled from abroad or homemade liquor that is sometimes tainted.

Police say they have arrested several men in a series of raids for illegally preparing and selling the homemade alcohol.

In October of last year, at least 12 people died after drinking contaminated liquor in the eastern city of Multan.

Source: VOA News

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