KARACHI: A local court in Karachi granted bail on Friday to three accused persons, including a seminary owner, who had handed over 35 girl students to a family in Liaqatabad C-1 area as a bargaining chip to settle a debt recovery dispute.

The three accused persons, including seminary owner Hameeda Bibi, were produced in court today where their bail application was accepted against a surety bond of Rs 50,000 for Hameeda Bibi and Rs 100,000 for the other two.

Read: Children pay the price

The court adjourned the next hearing of the case until December 10.

Police on Wednesday had recovered 36 minor girl students of a Karachi seminary who had been handed over to a family by a teacher and a supervisor of the madrassah over non-payment of a debt.

The little girls, who hail from Bajaur, still remain at the Darul Banaat child protection unit in Shanti Nagar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, in the custody of Sindh government.