A Pakistani man has been arrested for hoisting the flag of arch
rival India on his roof, an act police described as "anti-state" but
which the accused says was a tribute to Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli,
officials said on Wednesday.
Umar Draz, from the eastern Pakistani district of Okara in Punjab,
was 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.
"It's illegal to hoist the flag of another country,"
police officer Ismail Khan said. "Yesterday he was presented before a
local court and sent to jail" while he awaits trial.
The detained man told the media that he is a fan of Kohli, who
secured India's victory in the Twenty20 International against Australia this
week.
Police confirmed that Draz had photographs of the cricketer all
over his house.
Majority-Hindu India and majority-Muslim Pakistan became two
different countries in 1947 when they became independent of Britain. They have
since fought three wars and both claim the disputed Himalayan region of
Kashmir.
Protesters in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir are
regularly arrested for hoisting Pakistani flags and chanting slogans in support
of Pakistan.
-
ISLAMABAD (Reuters)
No comments:
Post a Comment