Traffic warden says Akmal a “national hero”

E-Paper | June 08, 2026

LAHORE: Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal was Friday cleared in a traffic violation case after the police officer forgave him, saying he was a “national hero”.

Also read: Umar Akmal's traffic fiasco comes to an end

The 23-year-old was arrested by Lahore police on February 1 for violating traffic rules and scuffling with policeman Mohammad Zeeshan.

He was released on bail after being detained for hours and a local court last month issued a warrant against him, ordering him to appear on March 11.

Akmal had denied the charges and accused the police of one-sided action.

A court official said magistrate Imtiaz Ahmed dismissed the case after Zeeshan forgave the cricketer.

“I have forgiven Akmal because he is a national hero,” Zeeshan told reporters outside the court.

“Akmal's father apologised to me out of the court and after his assurances I asked the court to end the case,” he said.

“But if Akmal ever violates traffic rules again, I will perform my duties.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman Akmal rescued his team with a fighting hundred against minnows Afghanistan in the Asia Cup last month, just days before the court ordered him to appear.

He left for Bangladesh early Friday along with the rest of the Pakistan team for the World Twenty20 tournament which starts on Sunday.

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irfan

Mar 14, 2014 07:45pm

The police officer did not perform his duty and absolutely NOT honest....He is sold out like most of the Pakistani's. If he was honest: he would have pursued it till the punishment.

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Mar 14, 2014 08:16pm

@irfan: I strongly agree with you.

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observer

Mar 14, 2014 08:27pm

Traffic Warden, you are indeed a good man. God bless you. Honestly, I would have done the same if I was in your shoes. It is not easy to swallow one's pride especially when you were on official duty and were totally right in your stance. You could have dragged the batsman for a long time. But you gave up your legal right in the interest of cricket team. That makes you a good man.

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faisal

Mar 14, 2014 08:44pm

@irfan: Law is a law .National hero should set a good example by obeying the law as well as police should treat every citizen with same respect.

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Ruman

Mar 14, 2014 08:50pm

@irfan: Relax, bro. We know these are hard times in pak, but try to chill out. Have some fun. Don't take your frustration out on the poor warden or Akmal.

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Mar 14, 2014 09:36pm

Who is the warden to forgive Umar. Was this a personal fight? No it was NOT. Any one misbehaving to a person on state duty should be prosecuted on behalf of the state. Could Umar be gone free in a civilized society? the answer is no NEVER. Law should never be compromised irrespective of the accuser being a national hero or a international zero.

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Boss

Mar 14, 2014 10:33pm

The Proud hero should have apologized in person. In the end the real winner is the warden.

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Sajjad Ali

Mar 14, 2014 10:49pm

Rules should be same for everyone whether it is a sweeper or Prime Minister. if anyone commits mistake he/she must face the punishment.

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Sajjad Ali

Mar 14, 2014 10:50pm

if anyone breaks the rule he/she must face the punishment

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Raz

Mar 15, 2014 12:17am

What has apology got to do with traffic violation ? Can i over speed than beat up the cop who gave me the ticket - than apologize (no matter who i am). What a joke .....

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Khalid

Mar 15, 2014 01:30am

@observer: You are making a number of assumptions. Perhaps the biggest one is that the policeman let Omar Akmal off in the interest of cricket!. I believe, you would also expect politicians, ministers and anyone else who is power, to be allowed to walk free after committing a crime. I remember the husband of the Queen of England was given a ticket for traffic violation a few years ago. Pakistani style justice also means that TTP terrorists, who kill Pakistanis every day are allowed to sit across a table with the government and Musharraf is being tried for treason.

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mansoor

Mar 15, 2014 01:30am

The policeman should be charged with the crime of "Perverting the cause of justice". National hero slapped you in your face and you have presented other cheek. Umar will do it again and that time it would be in England/Australia or Dubai and he will languish in Jail.

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ivehadit

Mar 15, 2014 02:24am

Honestly, i find it very hard to understand the loyalty people feel towards the traffic warden. Many of us would never trust ourselves to the police. However, something about Akmal generates all this hostility. He's 22 years old, one of the worlds most promising cricketers, and that's no small claim. Maybe just a few in the world that have achieved his pinnacle of success. We like to pull down our heroes, thats for sure.

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Arshid Khan

Mar 15, 2014 02:39am

We should have set an example that law is same for every citizen of Pakistan. It was a GOLDEN CHANCE missed to set an example in Pakistan. There will more cases like this now.

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Shahid

Mar 15, 2014 04:41am

This discrimination between the special ones and the ordinaries is a sorrow tale of underdeveloped societies. Sharifs beat up a baker and they go free, Umar Akmal kan over speed, slap a warden and goes free, We sweat with hard work to sit in a CSS exams while children of elite get posted as bureaucrates without going through CSS, No one can touch Musharaf what ever his crime but an Aam admi is booked for no crime. The ordinaries have no rights no justice and can't even protect their Izzat. Look at the girl who got raped by five on gun point and only way she could wash the shame and arrange for his family to face the world was through a terrible suicide. What did the specials do? take notice and annouce 5 lakhs, Alas!!. Mr. Big and little Shrif, motorways and economic coridors are of no use for these ordinaries like the girl who burnt her to death. How can you sleep sir, why don't you make prompt examples.

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syed

Mar 15, 2014 06:04am

so laws only apply to aam aadmi? and heroes are God send? guy plays cricket for money!! what is so heroism about that? we can never get to the level of justice of the west. always influenced from above!!! nothing to rejoice about.

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Rev.Eldrick Lal

Mar 15, 2014 08:10am

But it doesn't mean that Akmal violate traffic rules and enjoy impunity

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Farouk Khan

Mar 15, 2014 09:05am

So here we go again. Someone is a hero, others politicians, still other's fauji's and if none of the above you are an American ala Raymond Davis. Law is only for the weak. Bye the bye, a traffic violation is a criminal offence and not a civil matter between the traffic warden and a citizen.

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goldigger

Mar 15, 2014 09:36am

They play cricket, they earn huge amounts of money..they think they are powerful, they think they can get away with the law? They call themselves national hero? They think the 'Police' is unjust to them? Whats the difference between a dirty scoundrel politician and a national hero in this country then??

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Ebrahim

Mar 15, 2014 12:41pm

Every citizen should be treated equally no matter who he/she is, if you allow so called heroes then where will the rule of law. Pakistan is suffering because of the use of law are different depending on the weight age of money or power behind the culprits.

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s khan

Mar 15, 2014 02:42pm

real heros are the poor of country who are forced to sell their organs for living,yet they pay heavy taxes.RICHES can even walk away with murder after paying blood money.

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ali

Mar 16, 2014 06:44pm

@faisal: Agreed. He is role model for the younger generation.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 17, 2014 10:01pm

All right. He might be a great hero but does that mean he can do whatever he wants even if that's against the law, moral or ethical norms, values and principles of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan? I don't think so.

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Efti

Mar 17, 2014 11:37pm

@Raz: This is Pakistan which has so many holes in the law to get of the hook as long as you have resources.to pay for it. Powerful people use it every day to their interests. Police is corrupt, prosecution is uneducated , failure, and weak. Courts are biased and politically motivated. After all this, no one got capital punishment in last 6 year. So there is no deterrent. This why life is cheap in pak. People just settle their cases out of courts and change their testimony in the court to fulfill court formalities. This is how it goes.

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