KARACHI, Sept 29: Police on Thursday submitted a charge-sheet against Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) chairman Bashir Qureshi in an illicit weapon possession case.

The JSQM chief, along with his two aides — Shiraz Ahmed Subhani and Badruddin — was detained by the Rangers on Sept 15 near his Gulshan-i-Hadeed residence and allegedly illicit weapons were seized from them.

The investigation officer of the case submitted his report (charge-sheet) under Section 173 of the criminal procedure code in the court of Judicial Magistrate (Malir) Abdul Qayyum Syed on Thursday.

According to the charge-sheet, a police party along with personnel of other law-enforcement agencies intercepted a vehicle carrying JSQM chief Mr Qureshi on Sept 15 and saw a loaded submachine-gun (SMG) in his hands. A TT pistol and 15 bullets were also seized during the body search of Shiraz Ahmed Subhani while another loaded SMG was seized from Badruddin.

The charge-sheet further stated that two Kalashnikovs and 60 bullets were found during a search of the nationalist leader's vehicle. It said that under the direction of the court, the licences produced by the suspects in court were sent for verification but the SMGs seized from Mr Qureshi and Badruddin were found to be illegal.

Around 10 policemen have been cited as prosecution witnesses in the charge-sheet.

The police also submitted a separate charge-sheet against Badruddin in the court, which accepted and sent it to the district and sessions court (Malir) for trial. The district court fixed the case for Oct 6.

Meanwhile, the investigation officer filed a class-C report for cancellation of a case lodged against Subhani since the court had released him on a personal bond after he produced the licence of the pistol seized from him.

According to the prosecution, the JSQM chief along with his two aides were taken into custody during a spot check near his house on Sept 15 by paramilitary soldiers, who found illicit weapons in their possession. Later, weapons were also found in the residence of the nationalist leader, it added. Subhani was released on the following day while the other two suspects were released on bail on Sept 17.

Two cases were registered against Mr Qureshi under Sections 13-D and 13-E of the Pakistan Arms Ordinance, 1965 at the Steel Town police station. A charge-sheet in the case registered under Section 13-D was filed in court on Thursday. In the other case, the IO sought time for submission of a charge-sheet by stating that the report about verification of weapons found in Mr Qureshi's house was awaited.

The police also registered two cases against Subhani and Badruddin under Section 13-D of the arms ordinance.