KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the 10-year imprisonment awarded to a man for possessing rifle grenade, observing that possessing a grenade was a heinous crime.

The Antiterrorism Court (ATC) had awarded 14-year term to Naeemullah Niazi after finding 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 filed the appeal in the apex court against the punishment awarded by the trial court and the verdict of the high court.

His counsel submitted that the prosecution had failed to submit any credible evidence against the appellant.

He 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 prosecution, however, opposed the convict`s pleas maintaining that there were enough evidences against the applicant. The prosecutor asked the court to throw out 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.