Daily Times

LAHORE: A Pakistani die-hard fan of swashbuckling Indian batsman Virat Kohli has been arrested for hoisting the Indian tri-colour atop his home in Punjab which he had done to show his love for the cricketer. Police has described the act as ‘anti-state’ but which the accused says was a tribute to Indian cricket captain Kohli.

Umar Draz, from Okara district, about 200 km from Lahore, was arrested on a complaint that he hoisted the Indian flag on the rooftop of his house as police raided his home on Tuesday, 26th January – India’s Republic Day. “We raided the house of Umar Draz and seized the Indian flag from his rooftop,” Muhammad Jamil, a police official, was quoted as saying Wednesday. He said the police had arrested Draz and registered a case under the Maintenance of Public Order. He was presented in court the same day and was remanded into police custody. Draz turned out to be a big fan of India’s Test cricket captain Virat Kohli. “I am a big fan of Kohli. I support the Indian team because of Kohli. Hoisting of Indian flag on the rooftop of house only shows my love for the Indian cricketer,” Draz told reporters. Draz said he had no idea that he committed a crime and urged authorities to pardon him. He said he should be seen as “an Indian cricketer’s fan and not as a spy.” Poster size photographs of Kohli were also found pasted on the walls of his house.

Umar has been charged under the Pakistan Penal Code, which is reserved
for crimes considered contravening Pakistan’s sovereignty and carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Police said they received information on Monday that Draz had hoisted the Indian flag. He went on the run, but police managed to find him on Tuesday.