Pakistan

Court denies bail for Pakistani Kohli fan who hoisted Indian flag

Umar Daraz has been charged with violating public order and "sovereignty of Pakistan" laws

Afp February 19, 2016

PHOTO: PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

LAHORE: A Pakistani cricket fan who was arrested for waving the flag of India after his idol Virat Kohli struck a match-winning knock was denied bail on Friday as he faces the prospect of up to a decade in prison.

Umar Daraz, 22, was jailed on January 26 for celebrating with India's tricolour after batting star Kohli's 90 not out led his team to victory over Australia in a Twenty20 match in Adelaide. The act was termed "against the ideology of Pakistan" by police.

"Magistrate Anique Anwar has rejected Daraz's bail plea. We will now appeal in the court of session judge," Daraz's lawyer Azeem Amir Bhatti, told AFP. He said that Daraz has been charged with violating public order and "sovereignty of Pakistan" laws.

Pakistani Kohli fan facing 10 years in jail for hoisting Indian flag

Regional Police officer Faisal Rana had said at the time of Daraz's arrest that could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine. "Daraz initially told us that he is a true Pakistani but likes (Indian) Kohli and never knew that was a crime," Rana told media.

"His act is against our country's sovereignty and is against the ideology of Pakistan." Rana also accused Daraz of having large posters of Kohli pasted on the walls of his home.

Daraz's arrest came weeks before Indian student leader Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on a controversial sedition charge in a case that has sparked a major row over freedom of expression.

Nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India have a long history of animosity dating back to independence from Britain in 1947, and have fought three wars.

Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli part ways

Indian Prime Minister paid a surprise visit to Lahore to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in December, raising hopes for the revival of peace talks.

But an attack on an Indian air base in January that New Delhi alleges was carried out by a militant group based in Pakistan has once again stalled the dialogue process.

COMMENTS (17)

Ray | 8 years ago | Reply This episode shoes how developing countries like Pakistan not all about their citizens but nonsensical stupid laws to punish the innocents and let the crooks free...people are looting the country are free and not being held accountable politicians, civilians and military no accountability but a poor tailer boy hoisted an indian flag ten year jail? come on stupidity has no limits.

Raj - USA | 8 years ago | Reply @Vectra: In India, he was arrested for protesting against India, Indian Government and raising Pakistan flag. In Pakistan he was arrested for supporting an Indian cricket player. Huge difference in both.

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JD | 8 years ago | Reply Being a fan is one thing. Waving a flag is another. Although the punishment he received is harsher but you don't wave a red rag in front of a bull!

MA | 8 years ago | Reply An absolute example of Justice gone ridiculous. So many crimes and atrocities committed in the country and the court wants to hold on to an avid sports fan. It's time our PM intervened.

usman778 | 8 years ago | Reply This is ridiculous! You know what bigger sedition is? Terrorists roaming around with complete disregard for the writ of state. undesirables from yemen to uzbekistan roaming in our "Federally administered' areas. Not some vain foolish kid who has been told that he looks like Virat Kohli. Talk about incompetence and waste of time.

Dajjal | 8 years ago | Reply While "Ignorance of the Law" is no excuse.... Ignorant Laws used to Jail people are also not an excuse.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply We all have heard the saying “storm in a teacup”, and now we have a demonstration of that. In fact, it has gone far beyond that. Admitted Pakistan and India are two different, sovereign countries. Admitted also that for reasons – which I would not go into details right now – the two countries have not been on the best of terms with each other, and have even fought some wars, which the poor countries could least afford. Still, on a person-to-person basis, there is nothing wrong with a Pakistani developing a liking for some Indian due to his excellent performance or an Indian displaying the same sort of feelings for a Pakistani, and hoisting the flag of that country as a mark of appreciation for the wonderful performance put up by the person concerned. After all, hoisting of Indian flag on a Pakistani house would not have turned the place into a ‘disputed territory’, with India claiming sovereignty over it and raising the issue at international forums. Now, I could expect and even forgive a policeman, with little education, for behaving the way he did, but surely we are entitled to expect a better standard of conduct from higher ups, who are expected to know better. It is common sight that whenever foreign dignitaries visit Pakistan, they are given a warm welcome, and flags of both countries are hoisted along the route. However, I have not heard of anyone thrown into prison for doing that and taken to court for committing the unforgivable crime of ‘violating public order and sovereignty of Pakistan or dishonouring the ideology of the country’ By far the best conduct in this respect that I have seen on television so far was displayed by a country, the name of which l can’t recollect right now. In that country, whenever a foreign team played a game with the national team, out of consideration for the foreign team that would not have just as many backers, the audience splits into two, with one backing the national team while the other half cheering up foreign players. I would like to quote another example. In UK, a man wearing dirty, tattered jeans, with patches all over, decided to use Union Jack, the national flag, for a big patch on his hind quarters. As it happened, a policeman took him into custody and presented him in the court. However, the court just set him free. This is because strong, confident countries know it well that their ideology and sovereignty are not so fragile as to be ‘harmed’ by such simple acts. It is obvious that here in Pakistan, it would be too much to expect that standard of tolerance, decency and civility, but there really is no need to go to such an extent in displaying our intolerance and bad manners. In a situation where Pakistanis do not have a good image internationally, there really is no need to add to that by indulging in needless, voluntary acts, which only worsen our image, while erroneously believing that we are performing the sacred duty of upholding the ideology and sovereignty of Pakistan I sincerely hope that at some level, our officials would display at least a sense of proportion, and avoid committing senseless acts which serve no useful purpose, and only end up making Pakistanis a laughing stock around the globe. Karachi

Acorn Guts | 8 years ago | Reply Cuz courts don't have any bails left for this guy, they've all been given to Mualana Aziz already.

Burhan Khan | 8 years ago | Reply The full force of National Action plan will be applied on this illiterate tailor while all the terrorist sympathisers and apologists roam free enjoying the governments hospitality. If the countries sovereignty is threatened by raising a homemade flag then you have some serious insecurities to take care of.

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply In Pakistan poors always sufffer.

MAK | 8 years ago | Reply The person btw resembles Kohli a lot ... that might be one of the reasons he was a die-hard fan of Kohli. Feel sorry for him ... but hope he will be released soon.

Vectra | 8 years ago | Reply Now will all those Pakistanis who were supporting the JNU leader arrested on sedition case do strikes and protests in Pakistan to free one of their own who was denied bail for hoisting Indian flag.This individual needs Pakistanis now more to come forward and defend him like what the Indians are doing for one of their colleagues. At least in India people are openly protesting and raising their voice and in doing so they also reflects and gives the glimpse the power of tremendous freedom of expression that exists in India but in Pakistan it is yet to be seen and blossomed.

What? | 8 years ago | Reply So we are really not going to let it go?

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply well it was stupid of him to host an idian flag, there is nothing wrong being an indian cricketer fan. And pakistanis courts are doing more harm by punishing him in this way.

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply Actually Umar Daraz's real crime is to look like Kohli !

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Wish he had Al-Qaeda, or TTP flag. Nobody would have dared arresting him then. How pathetic can we get? Is there an end to our madness?

Jibran | 8 years ago | Reply Waving an Indian flag undermined the sovereignty of Pakistan? Pakistan seems to be in an extremely fragile state.

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