A sessions court on Thursday granted Karachi University professor Dr Riaz Ahmed bail in a case pertaining to the possession of illicit weapons.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) Rajesh Chandar Rajput, who began hearing arguments on Ahmed's bail application a day earlier, heard the remaining arguments today and decided to grant the professor bail against a surety bond of Rs 50,000.

Dr Ahmed, an associate professor at the Applied Chemistry department of KU, was taken into custody by Rangers on April 1 for allegedly carrying an unlicensed pistol when he was on his way to the Karachi Press Club to hold a press conference to demand the release of over 70-year-old retired professor and leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London Dr Hasan Zafar Arif.

A case was registered against Dr Ahmed under Section 23(i)(a) of the Sindh Arms Act 2013 on the complaint of a Rangers inspector at the Artillery Maidan police station.

Dr Ahmed, who was remanded to prison on the following day, through his lawyer barrister Salahuddin Ahmed moved the bail application.

The applicant’s counsel had earlier argued that his client was picked up when he was going to the KPC to address a press conference and was framed in the case with mala fide intention.

He maintained during the hearing on Wednesday that there was no independent witness and all witnesses of the case were Rangers’ personnel, adding that the applicant was entitled to bail since he was no more required for questioning as he had already been remanded to prison.

The special public prosecutor of Rangers, Sajid Mehboob Shaikh, had opposed the bail application and contended that besides the present case, the applicant as per his mobile data was also allegedly promoting and supporting the bloggers accused of committing blasphemy, adding that the matter was still under investigation since the mobile phone of the applicant had been sent to the forensic lab for analysis.