KARACHI, Nov 22: The first additional sessions judge, South, Karachi granted bail to five arrested nationalist and labour leaders of the National Party here on Thursday.

President of the National Party Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Senior Vice-President of the National Workers Party Yousuf Masti Khan, and three labour leaders — Fareed Awan, Ayub Qureshi and Liaquat Ali Sahi — were arrested outside the Karachi Press Club on Nov 5, 2007 when they were protesting against the imposition of emergency, removal of judges and curbs on the media.

They were arrested by the Frere police and an FIR (No 265/2007) under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code was lodged against them.

While the first three sections deal with rioting offences, the last one pertains to sedition. Mohammad Jameel advocate appeared as counsel for them.—PPI