Virat Kohli’s Pakistani fan faces up to 10 years in prison

Lahore, Jan 28: A Pakistani fan of Indian star batsman Virat Kohli is facing up to a decade in jail after being taken into custody for raising the Indian tricolour on the roof of his house in Punjab province.

The fan arrested on Tuesday was identified as Umar Draz, who hails from a town in Okara district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, about 200 km from here.

Police said the 22-year-old went “against the ideology of Pakistan” when he hoisted the flag on his rooftop celebrating Kohli’s blazing knock of 90 not out, which set up India’s 37-run win in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals cricket series against Australia.

Regional police officer Faisal Rana said Draz was charged under Pakistan’s penal code with acting against Pakistan’s sovereignty and that he could face a fine and 10 years in jail.

“Draz initially told us that he is a true Pakistani but likes Kohli and never knew that was a crime,” Rana was quoted as saying by dunyanews.tv on Thursday.

“His act is against our country’s sovereignty and is against the ideology of Pakistan.”

The officer also said Draz’s home was full of pictures of Kohli.

“He is a diehard fan of Kohli and there were big posters pasted on the walls of his house,” he said. (IANS)