Police on Sunday registered a case against Former Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Faisal Raza Abidi over charges of carrying a SMG (sub-machine gun) without licence and later on presented him before a concerned court, which sent him in custody of prison till November 19.

Sachal police registered FIR (572/2016) against Abidi under Section 23 (i) of Sindh Arms Act.

The police presented him before Judicial Magistrate Malir who sent him in judicial custody till November 19.

The Section 23 (i) of Sindh Arms Act states that:

“Whoever acquires, possesses, carries or control any firearm or ammunition in infringement of section 3, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and with fine.”

While confirming his arrest to Dawn, Jamshed Quarters SP Tahir Noorani had said Abidi was taken into custody in connection with the killing of two men who belonged to the Tableeghi Jamaat in Patel Para area of the metropolis earlier this week.

“We have arrested Faisal Abidi for his alleged involvement in the double murder case,” said SP Jamshed Quarters Tahir Noorani.

Meanwhile, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen on Sunday evening held a protest at M A Jinnah Road near Numaish Chowrangi against arrest of Faisal Raza Abidi and Maulana Mirza Yusuf Husain.

The protesters carried banners, urging the government to arrest the culprits involved in killing of five people including three brothers in an armed attack outside a house in Nazimabad where a Majlis was in progress on October 29.

Earlier in the day, MWM office bearer Syed Nasir Sheerazi, Sunni Ittehad Council chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Mustafa Abidi, brother of Faisal Raza Abidi, addressed a press conference at Karachi Press Club and said that if “Abidi and others were not released, they would be compelled to hold country-wide protest”.

The firebrand PPP leader had resigned from his Senate seat in 2014 after developing differences with his party.

Abidi, once among the most trusted lieutenants of former president Asif Zardari, was accused of violating party discipline and repeatedly issuing statements in favour of martial law.