KARACHI, Sept 15: Police booked on Thursday Bashir Qureshi, the chairman of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, after he was detained and grilled for more than six hours by Rangers for possessing illegal arms.

The episode sparked tension in the strongholds of the nationalist party, which called a 'province-wide strike' for Friday, terming the action as part of 'political victimisation'.

“Two separate FIRs have been registered against Mr Qureshi by the Steel Town police under Sections 13-D and 13-E the Pakistan Arms Ordinance for the possessing illegal arms,” said Malir SSP Rao Anwar.

“His two aides, who were detained by Rangers along with Mr Qureshi, have also been booked.”

Mr Qureshi was detained by Rangers near his home in Gulshan-i-Hadeed area on Thursday.

A Rangers spokesman said the paramilitary force found four sub-machine guns, two pistols and several bullets, all unlicensed, during snap checking of Mr Qureshi's vehicle.