BAHAWALPUR, Dec 23: Scores of ginners from Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Bahawalpur and Sindh on Friday protested against the release of wrong figures of the ginned cotton, which led to a cotton crisis causing enormous losses to them. The meeting of ginners was convened by Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Bahawalpur circle, vice-chairman Mahmood Ahmed.

Ginners made furious speeches against PCGA central president Muhammad Azam Warraich, who in his concluding speech informed the house that an inquiry into the release of wrong cotton figures had been ordered.

He denied that the PCGA was virtually playing in the hands of brokers, and assured that whoever found responsible for releasing wrong figures would be severely dealt with.

The ginners demanded that the government should purchase about 2.7 million cotton bales which were lying in their stocks all over the country.

SUSPENDED: DPO Arif Nawaz, during his surprise raids in three police stations on Friday, suspended seven policemen on various charges.

Those suspended were: Civil Lines SHO Nasir Ghauri, ASIs Raeesur Rehman (Civil Lines), Liaquat Ali (Sammasatta) and Arshad (Musafirkhana), and three moharrers.

The DPO said the suspended officials had failed to intensify the patrolling and control heinous crimes despite clear instructions by the chief minister.