ICC Note:

Christians in Pakistan have expressed their sorrow over the death of 43 individuals who died of alcohol poisoning over the Christmas holiday. According to reports, the deceased died after consuming tainted liquor at a Christmas party in eastern Punjab. Many Christians have expressed shock and sorrow over the incident which has tainted another Christmas holiday in Pakistan. 

12/31/2016 Pakistan (Asia News) – The National Commission for Justice and Peace of Pakistan (NCJP) has expressed deep sorrow for the death of 43 people, mostly Christians, from tainted homemade liquor at a Christmas party.

The incident occurred in Toba Tek Singh, a district in Punjab province. In addition to the dead, at least another 120 people have been hospitalized in critical condition in various hospitals in the province.

NCJP president Mgr Joseph Arshad, bishop of Faisalabad, visited the relatives of the victims and expressed to them the condolences of the entire Christian community.

“This tragic event,” he said, “turned the joyous festivity of Christmas into mourning with many lives still hang in the balance due to critical conditions” of many patients.

The prelate visited the hospital in his city, and prayed for a quick recovery of the sick and for the souls of the departed and for their families.

“Life is uncertain,” he explained, “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 relatives.

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