Faisal Raza Abidi released on bail

Former senator Faisal Raza Abidi was granted bail on Thursday against a surety bond of Rs50,000 in a case pertaining to possession of illegal weapons.

Law enforcement agencies had arrested Abidi and seized weapons during a raid on his house in New Rizvia Society on Saturday over suspicion of his involvement in Friday’s sectarian killings. 

Police registered a case against the former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader on Sunday on charges of carrying a SMG (sub-machine gun) without a licence. He was sent to the central prison on judicial remand until Nov 19. However, Abidi has been released from the central prison after he deposited the surely bound of Rs50,000 on the orders of a district and sessions court in Malir.

At the time of Abidi's arrest, police had claimed that the former senator was taken into custody for investigation of killing of two men who belonged to the Tableeghi Jamaat in Patel Para area. An FIR was registered against unknown suspects at the Jamshed Quarters police station on Friday night on complaint of the victims’ relatives.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while addressing a press conference, had said that Abidi was arrested for possession of unlicensed weapons.

Faisal Raza Abidi had resigned from his senate seat in 2014 after developing differences with the PPP leadership.