SUKKUR, Dec 8: The co-chairman, All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Haji Mohammad Haroon Memon, has criticized the government for failing to control the price of flour and check the artificial shortage of wheat.

In a press statement issued here on Monday, he said that the government was claiming to eliminate poverty from the country but, on the contrary, prices were on the rise as was evident from the increase in the rates of flour, meat, petrol, electricity, etc.

This reflected the failure of the government in its commitment to give relief to the people, he added.

He termed the decrease of 4.5 paisa per unit in electricity tariff as a joke with the people.

He warned that if no efforts were made to control the prices of daily-use items, the people would come out on the streets to protest against the government.

SENTENCED: Anti-Terrorism Court special judge Amir Faisal here on Monday convicted and sentenced accused Mohammad Ayub Bachkani to life imprisonment in a kidnapping case and also imposed fine of Rs100,000 on him.

Co-accused Manzoor Mirb-ahar, Hafeez Chachar, Shabbir Dhandoo and Bashir Dhandhoo were tried in absentia and also awarded the same. Other absconding accused Mohammad Hussain, Allah Bachayo and Ashiq Mazari were however acquitted by the court.