Virat Kohli's Pakistani Fan, Facing Up To 10 Years In Jail For Waving Indian Flag, Denied Bail

If you're a Pakistan citizen and if you wish to show your affection for Indian personalities, it could cost you. And cost you lots. The story of young Umar Draz from Okara district is such that it will make you think whether or not it is feasible to show your love for your neighbouring country.

TOI

The 22-year-old Umar Draz is facing an imprisonment of up to 10 years for hoisting the Indian flag atop his house in Pakistan's Punjab province. It was last month that he wanted to show his love for India's run-machine Virat Kohli, who was busy tonking the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground. But that proved way too costly for him. For such an act, Draz was arrested on charges of treason from his house on January 25 in a village about 200 kilometres from Lahore.

PTI

Now, the District court judge Anique Anwar has announced that his bail plea has been rejected, prolonging his agony. "We are disappointed and will challenge the decision in the session's court," said Draz's counsel Aamir Bhatti. Police officer Aziz Cheema told reporters he had said in his report that no evidence was found that Draz committed "treason".

The police registered an FIR against Draz, who is a tailor by profession, under section 123-A of Pakistan Penal Code and 16 Maintenance of Public Order. The section 123-A (acts of damaging the sovereignty of the country) carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail or fine or both.

ANI

Earlier Bhatti told the court that his client was innocent and had committed the mistake without knowing the implications. "This is not a case in which someone was hoisting the flag of any country for its love. During football World Cup matches people here used to hoist Brazil and Argentina flags and nobody minds it because the gesture is seen in a sports perspective. This is a similar case."

AFP

"I am a big fan of Virat Kohli. I support the Indian team because of Kohli. Hoisting of Indian flag on the rooftop of my house only shows my love for the Indian cricketer," Draz had said.

In times of such harsh right-wing activism in both India and Pakistan, perhaps this situation provides an opportunity for Kohli to thaw the Indo-Pak relations and offer a helping hand to his die-hard fan from across the border. But, will he respond?