skip to main content

Christmas moonshine kills 23 in Pakistan

It is illegal for Muslims to buy or consume alcohol in Pakistan, and minorities need permits to buy it in restricted quantities
It is illegal for Muslims to buy or consume alcohol in Pakistan, and minorities need permits to buy it in restricted quantities

A toxic homemade Christmas alcohol killed at least 23 people, mostly from Pakistan's Christian minority community, and made dozens sick, police have said.

At least 45 people were treated for poisoning after drinking the moonshine in the town of Toba Tek Singh, Punjab province,about 315km south of Islamabad.

"The maker and supplier of the toxic liquor is also included among the dead," senior police official Bilal Kamyana said.

"The maker prepared liquor at home and sold it in polythene bags for 500 rupees (about €4.50) each."

Deaths from tainted liquor, often home-brewed, occur periodically in Muslim-majority Pakistan, often around religious festivals.

In March, at least 40 people, mostly Hindus, died after drinking toxic liquor days ahead of the festival of Holi.

It is illegal for Muslims to buy or consume alcohol in the country, and minorities need permits to buy it in restricted quantities.

Christians make up about 1.6% of Pakistan's 190 million people, with most living in Punjab.