How to explain the products of the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 1-chloro-3-methylbenzene with NaOH? I guess this reaction is a nucleophilic aromatic substitution where $\ce{ONa-}$ is the nucleophile $\ce{Cl-}$ the leaving group, is that right?



Methyl group is a ortho-, para- director. So why should I have a meta product here? Don't we need an electron withdrawing group ($\ce{NO2}$ , carbonyl) in a NAS-reaction which is at ortho or para positions to the leaving group? 

I am a bit confused about the shown picture.
What is going on here is a benzyne process. Under the conditions of intense heat the hydroxide removes one of the protons either side of the Cl. Cl- then leaves to create a triple bond, giving a benzyne. As you might imagine this is a highly reactive species and reacts with the OH- with no regioselectivity; either end can get hydroxylated and you have two possible benzyne intermediates. Thus you get the mixture of products.