Confusion Resolved: French nationals briefly detained

RAWALPINDI: Two French nationals and their Pakistani driver were briefly detained by the city police on Saturday on the suspicion of taking pictures of sensitive installations. The New Town police questioned Appolo Nickolo, a French national of Italian descent, and Scremaris Fredrick, along with driver Abid Malik after they were apprehended by traffic wardens near the Chandni Chowk Flyover on Benazir Bhutto Road, police said. The trio were released after an hour once the two foreign nationals had their travel documents verified. The French pair said they were taking pictures of the under-construction flyover and were not aware of how close they were to the airport, the sensitive area in question. New Town Police Sub Inspector Muhammad Bilal said they found nothing suspicious on or about them. They had only taken shots of the flyover and no photos of any sensitive location had been taken. The police official added that they both had valid visas and travel documents.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2012.