OKARA, April 24: A number of addicts have protested against denial of the approved quota of opium pills to them by the district excise and taxation office.

The ETO staff is learnt to have expressed its inability to deliver pills to increasing number of addicts on the plea that the quota is not proportionately enhanced.

The addicts alleged that the authorities concerned pocketed money by selling their quota approved by the District Headquarters Hospital on black market. "A pack of pills should be given to us for Rs8, but it is being marketed for Rs50."

They also accused minority member Javed Iqbal Sindhu, who is appointed by District Nazim Syed Sajjad Haider to supervise the distribution of the pills among the addicts, of receiving his share to deprive them of the approved quota.

When contacted, the ETO staffers said they were providing the full quota to the addicts.

DIG office: Public representatives, including treasury and opposition members and district nazim, protested the decision of shifting the Sheikhupura Range DIG office from Lahore to Sheikhupura as it would create problems for the general public.

At a meeting here MNAs Syed Gulzar Sibtain, Rai Muhammad Aslam, Rao Muhammad Ajmal, Robina Wattoo and MPAs Ashraf Khan Sohna, Rai Farooq Omar Khar, Deewan Ikhlaq, Javid Allauddin and others demanded that the Punjab government should withdraw the decision.

They claimed this decision of the government would bring uncountable problems and wastage of time and money for thousands of people of range area districts, including Okara and Kasur. District Nazim Syed Sajjad Haider also called upon the government to withdraw the decision for the convenience of thousands of people.