Virat Kohli's Pakistani Fan's Bail Plea Dismissed

A Pakistan court has dismissed the bail plea of Indian cricketer Virat Kohli's young fan, who was arrested on treason charges for hoisting the Indian flag atop his home. (Virat Kohli's Pakistani Fan's Bail Plea Verdict Reserved)

Umar Daraz, a 22-year-old Kohli look alike, is facing an imprisonment of up to 10 years for hoisting the Indian flag atop his house in Okara district in Punjab province.

District court judge Anique Anwar announced his verdict on Thursday.

"We are disappointed and will challenge the decision in the session's court," said Daraz's counsel Aamir Bhatti.

Police officer Aziz Cheema told reporters, he had said in his report, that no evidence was found against Daraz committing "treason".

However, the judge dismissed his bail plea.

Daraz, a tailor by profession, was arrested from his house on January 25 in a village about 200 kilometres from Lahore. The police registered a FIR against him 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.

Earlier, Bhatti told the court that his client was innocent as he hoisted the Indian flag only to support his favourite cricketer, who was playing against Australia at the time.

He said Daraz committed the mistake without knowing the full 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 was against it because the gesture was seen in a sports perspective. This is a similar case."

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

He said he had no idea that he committed a crime, urging the authorities to pardon him as he should be seen as "an Indian cricketer's fan and not as a spy".

Large photographs of Kohli were found on the walls of Daraz's house. He was arrested the day India beat Australia in a Twenty20 match and Kohli was adjudged 'Man of the Match'.

Some civil society activists and journalists have raised their voice for his release and termed his gesture purely that of a sports lover.