Former Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Faisal Raza Abidi's bail was approved by a district and sessions court in Karachi on Thursday against a surety bond of Rs50,000, court officials said.

A case was registered against Abidi on Sunday by police on charges of carrying a SMG (sub-machine gun) without a licence. Abidi was sent to prison on judicial remand until Nov 19.

Faisal Raza Abidi has not been arrested in any other cases. Therefore, if the court issues a release order later in the day, Abidi will be set free, court officials said.

At the time of Abidi's arrest, Jamshed Quarters SP Tahir Noorani 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.

A top-ranking police officer later told Dawn that Abidi was “detained” and being investigated in some previous cases of sectarian killings.

When asked about arrest of former senator Faisal Raza Abidi and his alleged involvement in sectarian killing the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Shah while addressing a press conference earlier this week clarified that Abidi had been arrested "for possession of unlicensed weapons."