GUJRANWALA, Dec 20: At least 13,000 destitutes were deprived of subsistence allowance by the district zakat committee on the eve of Eidul Azha, Dawn learnt here on Thursday.

Reports said the government had directed the respective department to ensure payment of the allowance to deserving people before Eid, but the zakat committee officials failed to prepare the related documents.

Meanwhile, a group of widows have protested against the zakat committee for non-payment and demanded a probe into the matter.

When contacted district zakat committee officer Amjad Javed said allowance worth Rs1,500 per head could not be distributed among the destitute owing to non-completion of paper work.

He said the allowance would be given after Eid.

— Correspondent