KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) rejected on Monday the government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists involved in the illegal arms recovery case from the party’s headquarters at Nine Zero.

Announcing the verdict in the case, the court threw out the government’s appeals against the acquittal of MQM activists Faisal Mota, Ubaid K2, Farhan Mullah, and others.

The court also rejected the Rangers’ request seeking increases in the sentences of the 13 accused.

An anti-terrorism court had exonerated 14 accused including Nadir Shah in illegal arms and ammunition recovery case.

According to the prosecution, the ATC handed down different sentences to 13 MQM activists. The court awarded 10-year jail term to accused Faisal Mota for keeping illegal weapons and awarded 8-year sentences each to accused Farhan Shabbir alias Mullah, Ubaid K2, and Abid.

On March 11, 2015, Rangers arrested senior MQM leader Aamir Khan along with 26 party workers during an early morning raid on Nine Zero, and police registered as many as 52 cases against him.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, the court acquitted the accused in the case related to the explosives allegedly recovered from the spot.

According to the prosecution, the weapons recovered from Aamir Khan’s possession were included 11 anti-aircraft guns, 17 hand grenade launchers, 39 LMGs, 9 RPGs, 82 SMGs, 11 Seven MMs, one M16, 32 Chinese, 7.62 rifle, 10 G3, 5 sniper rifles, two repeaters, 9 short SMG and 245 magazines of SMG and G3, 200 grenades, 2,000 rifle grenades, 140 bulletproof vests and a large quantity of ammunition.