Assault charges: Umar Akmal grilled after brawl with traffic warden

Cricketer detained for a few hours before being released on personal surety.

LAHORE:

Test cricketer Umar Akmal was arrested on Saturday for allegedly violating traffic rules, interfering in government work and “scuffling” with a traffic official.

The sportsman was detained at the Gulberg Circle police station for a few hours, before being released on personal surety late Saturday night.

ASP Gulberg Circle Zahid Nawaz Marwat told The Express Tribune that Akmal crossed a red light, was rude to the warden and obstructed his work. An FIR has been registered against him under Sections 279 (rash driving), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353 (assault to deter public servant).

“Three wardens tried to stop him after he violated a traffic signal but he did not (stop). And when he finally stopped, he scuffled with a warden and tore his uniform,” said ASP Nawaz.

“Physically assaulting a police officer is a serious violation [of the law] which will not be tolerated,” said SP Model Town Tariq Aziz Sindhu.

However, Akmal denied the charges, claiming he had been assaulted by the traffic warden first.

“The warden hit me on my face and you can see the wounds,” he told reporters. “I myself came to the police station with a request to control the wardens who misbehave with people and the police have instead registered a case against me.”

“They were indulging me in conversation, telling me to let go of the issue, but I didn’t know that all this time that they were registering the FIR against me,” he complained.

Akmal could not be taken to court on Saturday and will be presented  before the duty magistrate today (Sunday).

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2014.