PHOTO: REUTERS
Joseph Arshad said this during his visit to the families of the victims on Wednesday.
On the occasion, he offered condolences and said the tragic event turned the joyous festivity of Christmas into mourning. He added still the condition of many people is critical. He demanded of the government to ban sale of substandard liquor and alcohol in Pakistan.
The Archbishop also visited the DHQ Hospital in Toba Tek Singh and inquired after the health of those critically ill.
During the meeting, he prayed for their quick recovery and also for the departed souls.
“Life is uncertain, but such untimely and terrible death is hard to cope with. May God grant you the strength to overcome this terrible loss,” he told patients and their relatives.
Meanwhile, a Christian activist Anil Thomas said, “Most Christians do not have enough money to buy good quality liquor, which is tested and approved by the authorities.”
He added, “They prefer alcoholic beverages which has adverse effects on health and can in some cases cause death.”
Earlier on December 27, more than 40 people were killed and dozens more were taken ill after consuming toxic liquor on Christmas Eve in Toba Tek Singh.
At least three people, who allegedly supplied the poisonous liquor, were taken into custody Police said those arrested included two brothers identified as Muhammad Shahid and Muhammad Qasim who own a shop. Their employee Mushtaq is the third suspect in custody.’
A police official said the suspects supplied aftershave lotion to Sowan Masih, a rickshaw driver, who subsequently made liquor and supplied it to a Christmas party though his friend Iqbal Masih.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2017.
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