The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday upheld the 10-year imprisonment awarded to a man for possessing rifle grenade, observing that possessing grenade was a heinous crime. The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had awarded 14-year term to accused Naeemullah Niazi after founding him guilty of possessing rifle grenade. His conviction was reduced to 10 years by the appellate bench of the Sindh High Court.
The convict through his counsel moved the apex court and challenged the punishment awarded by the trial court and the verdict of the high court. He submitted that the prosecution had failed to submit any credible evidences against him.
The defence counsel argued that the trial court did not follow due procedure while convicting Niazi. The court was requested to set aside the judgment of the trial court and to order the release of the convict. The convict's plea, however, was opposed by the prosecution, maintaining that there were enough evidences against the applicant. The prosecutor prayed to the court to throw the application of the accused.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the apex court bench, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, upheld the verdict of the SHC. Justice Khosa remarked that what was the purpose of possessing rifle grenade, asking as if it was a kids' toy.