VEHARI, Jan 2: Dozens of intending pilgrims have protested against the non-availability of vaccine. Talking to Dawn here on Friday, a group of intending pilgrims , including aged men and women, alleged that some Health department officials misused the funds meant for purchasing vaccine. They further alleged that officials were now asking them to get the vaccine from the market on their own.

The pilgrims also complained that they were not treated properly by health officials. They had to face problems as most of them came from far-flung rural areas of the district.

They urged the high-ups to take stock of the situation and direct the agencies concerned to supply the vaccine to the intending pilgrims. However, the district health officer said the required quantity of vaccine had not so far been received from the authorities concerned.

ARRESTED: The local police arrested 28 drug pushers and recovered a huge quantity of heroin, hashish and liquor from their possession during the last 24 hours.

According to a press release issued by the DPO here on Friday, the arrested included Ghulam Nabi, Nazir, Liaquat, Rafiq, Riaz, Iqbal, Mazher, Ghulam Rasool, Serwar, Muhammad Hussain, Nazar, Zulfiqar, Tayyab, Nasir, Karim, Mehmood Hussain, Shah Muhammad and Panah Muhammad.

The arrested outlaws belonged to various part of the Vehari district, including Luddan, Tibba Sultanpur, Ghafoorwah, Muzaqadirwah, Karampur and Mouza Noor Shah, it said.