Pakistan cricket star Umar Akmal released from detention

Pakistan cricket star Umar Akmal has been released after spending an entire day in detention for allegedly assaulting a traffic warden in Lahore, NDTV reported.

Umar was arrested after he was accused of scuffling with a policeman when he was stopped for violating a traffic signal.

He was locked up at the Gulberg police station in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon as the police registered three cases against him.

"He has just been released on personal surety by the station house officer of the Gulberg PS but will have to appear before the magistrate on Monday to get his bail confirmed until the cases are heard against him," SSP Zahid Aziz told reporters.

His arrest prompted a large number of his supporters to gather outside and raise slogans against his detention.

Umar's elder brother, Kamran told reporters that he was very upset with the way a national team player had been treated.

"We are not terrorists and we know and respect the law of the land but this is not the way to treat a Pakistan player like an ordinary criminal for a incident which has been blown out of proportion," Kamran said.

Pakistan Test cricketer Umar Akmal has been detained by police for questioning after being accused of assaulting a police warden near Firdous Town in Lahore on Saturday.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him at the Gulberg police station and he will be presented before a court within the next 24 hours, according to Express News.

“He violated a traffic signal and when he was stopped by the traffic warden he misbehaved with him, got abusive and also tore his shirt,” senior police official Tariq Aziz told reporters on Saturday.

Aziz said physically assaulting and tearing the shirt of a police officer was a serious violation.

“He is presently detained at the police station for questioning,” he added.

The warden, identified as Zeeshan, claimed that Akmal swore at him also threatened him.

However, Akmal, 23, denied the charges and told reporters that the traffic warden had slapped him and abused him over a minor issue.

“His behaviour was inappropriate to say the least. I came to the police station to register a complaint and instead they have detained me,” he added.

Speaking to the media, Gulberg assistant superintendant police (ASP) Zahid Nawaz said that Akmal’s face was not hurt and therefore there was no evidence to support his claim.

He added that the warden’s shirt was torn near his collar and if anyone had resorted to violence, it was Akmal, not the warden.

Akmal claimed the incident was captured on CCTV cameras at the traffic signal and the footage will make it clear who was the aggrieved and guilty parties.

Later in the day, Umar Akmal’s brother Kamran Akmal, who is also a cricketer, spoke to the media regarding his brother’s arrest.

Nobody is being allowed to see Umar, said Kamran Akmal, adding that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials were also turned away in the police station.

Kamran Akmal's attempt to meet his brother Umar who is in police has failed, Pakistan cricket webiste PakPassion.net reported.

"Kamran Akmal's attempted to meet Umar Akmal but wasn't allowed to do so by the police. Umar's likely to be kept in police custody overnight," Manager of PakPassion.net wrote on his twitter handle (@Saj_PakPassion).

He has quoted Kamran as saying: "I've heard that my brother is hurt and that the police beat him up. I've no idea why the police won't let me see Umar"

"I've no idea what major crime Umar's done to be jailed. I request the Prime Minister & Chief Minister to look into this issue" Kamran was quoted as saying further.

Umar's family also blamed the police for stopping him from applying for bail on Saturday as the court had closed for the day by the time he was taken there for the hearing.

"The police on purpose delayed taking him to the magistrate so we couldn't get bail for him now he might have to spend the night in lockup," his father Muhammad Akmal said.

Muhammad said the three charges registered against his son carried jail sentences of three months to two years and a fine.

Police have detained Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal and charged him with slapping a traffic sergeant after violating a traffic signal in Lahore on Saturday.

Inquiry officer Zahid Nawaz said Akmal is accused of tearing the uniform of one of the sergeants on duty and slapping him as three police officials tried to stop the batsman’s car when he ignored a traffic signal.

“Umar Akmal claimed the sergeant first grabbed his shirt, but I have minutely done the inquiry and no such thing happened,” Nawaz told reporters. “He resisted when three wardens (sergeants) tried to stop him. ... He even manhandled the warden and tore his shirt.”

Akmal told a private television channel that he had come to the police station with a complaint against the sergeant, but he was detained.

“I had first moved the application (against the sergeant) and they have registered case against me,” Akmal told ARY News.

Umar was reportedly driving to a friends wedding when he, according to the warden, broke three traffic lights between Cavalry Ground and Firdous Market and was “also over-speeding,” Dawn.com reported.

When the the 23-year-old was eventually pulled over and handed a ticket for his violations, a scuffle broke out.

Umar, who has appeared in 16 Tests, 89 one day internationals and 52 Twenty 20 matches, is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in Pakistan cricket.

The younger brother of Test players Kamran and Adnan Akmal, Umar claimed the incident was captured on CCTV cameras at the traffic signal and the footage will make it clear who was the aggrieved and guilty parties.

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