KARACHI -  Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Rauf Siddiqui and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Anis Qaim Khani were released from the Central Prison here on Wednesday after they got bail in a case pertaining to treatment and harbouring of terrorists at Zaiuddin Hospital.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday had granted bails to Dr Asim Hussain, a former petroleum minister belonging to Pakistan People's Party, and Pasban-e-Pakistan leader Usman Moazzam in the same case.

The SHC had directed all the accused to submit surety bonds of Rs500, 000 each.

MQM-P Convener Dr Farooq Sattar received Siddiqui from outside the prison.

Later both the leaders arrived at MQM-P's office in PIB Colony.

Later addressing a press conference at the PIB office, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar felicitated Siddiqui on his release and hoped that Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar and other detained leaders and workers of the party would also be freed soon.  He expressed complete confidence in the courts.

“We have every right to open our offices and take part in political activities,” Farooq said, and added, “We don’t want to look back now and want to speed up the pace of development and prosperity.”

Speaking on the occasion, MQM MPA thanked all his workers and party leaders who had prayed for him during his stay in the prison.

Meanwhile the PSP workers took out a rally to celebrate the release of PSP President Anis Qaim Khani. Number of workers, carrying national flags, began their march from Ayesha Bawani School at Shahrah-e-Faisal.

PSP Chairman Mustafa Kamal, along with other leaders, received Qaim Khani from outside the Central Prison and later joined the rally.

The rally, after moving on main artery of the city, reached party headquarters, Pakistan House.

Addressing the workers at Pakistan House, Qaim Khani thanked the party leaders and workers for their prayers for his early release.

“I was poisoned when I was the part of Muttahida Quami Movement, but now I remained in the prison for the truth,” he said, and added, “The party that was welcomed by eggs and rotten tomatoes has now become the heartbeat of the people since it is after a long time that people have identified the elements responsible for the destruction of the city. PSP is here to spread the message of unity as it is the only way out from the crisis.”