HYDERABAD, May 7: A First Additional District Judge here on Tuesday granted bail to Chairman Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Bashir Khan Qureshi, Vice-Chairman Dr Niaz Kalani and an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Waseem Ahmed alias Lal, in an arson case, against a surety of one lakh rupees, each.

The court, however, declared MQM chief Altaf Hussain, convener Coordination Committee Dr Imran Farooq, former Senators and deputy conveners Aftab Ahmed Sheikh and Nasreen Jaleel, JSQM’s acting chairman Shafi Karnani as absconders.

The case was lodged against them at B-section police station, Hyderabad, after a government vehicle was burnt in unit No 9 Latifabad on June 13, 2001, when MQM and JSQM had jointly called for a strike.

Three persons were also killed in incidents of violence on the strike day in Sukkur and Khairpur.

Aslam Pervez, advocate, of MQM’s legal aid committee represented the accused. Other accused, including MQM zonal head Salahuddin, have already been granted pre-arrest bail in the case.

JUDICIAL PROBE: District and Sessions Judge Mr Parkash Lal M. Ambwani on Tuesday recorded statements of three police officials of Central Jail, Hyderabad, in the judicial inquiry being conducted in the custodial killing of Mehmood Khoso, an under- trial prisoner.