Virat Kohli's Pakistan fan Umar Draz gets bail

Umar Draz, Virat Kohli’s Pakistani fan, who was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment following the hoisting of the Indian tricolor atop his house, was granted bail by a court in the country’s Punjab province.

The additional district and sessions court in Okara admitted the bail plea of Umar Draz, who has been behind the bars for over a month, Dawn online reported.

“Draz was arrested on January 25 for hosting an Indian flag on the rooftop of his house,” Dawn online reported.

This incident happened on January 26, when Draz waved the Indian flag on the rooftop. His act was not appreciated by his neighbors who filed a formal complaint against him. The police arrested the 22-year-old Draz on the grounds that it was “against the ideology of Pakistan”. The arrest took place at Draz’s home at the Okara district, approximately 200 Km from Lahore.

Draz, a tailor by profession, was produced before a district court and was sent to jail on judicial remand. He was later sentenced to 10 years in jail under section 123-A of Pakistan Penal Code (acts of damaging the sovereignty of the country) and 16 Maintenance of Public Order.

His legal counsel Aamir Bhatti then filed a bail plea. However, a magistrate Aneeq Anwer rejected his bail plea on February 18. Later, a fresh bail plea was filed in the court of additional district and sessions judge Asadullah Siraj. On Friday, the court admitted Draz’s bail plea and ordered him to furnish a surety bond of Rs 50,000.