Man held for burning national flag

E-Paper | February 23, 2026

LAHORE: Police arrested a man who allegedly desecrated the national flag in Faisal Town on Thursday.

The suspect, Qamarul Zaman, of Swabi works as a security guard and allegedly burnt the national flag. The suspect also raised slogan against the country in front of people.

Faisal Town SHO Inspector Waseem Akhtar said some locals reported to police that a man had burnt the national flag on Aug 13. He said the matter was brought into the knowledge of higher-ups and a team was constituted to arrest the suspect.

He said police arrested the suspect who had been fired from the army due to prolonged absence and had been working as a guard in a security company.

The SHO said a case under Section 123-B of PPC was registered against the suspect and police also recovered the burnt flag.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2015

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Ali Khan

Aug 28, 2015 12:41pm

Punish him hard

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Fida Hussain Advocate

Aug 28, 2015 12:43pm

He must be punished

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sheryar

Aug 28, 2015 12:47pm

a true free country would not punish him for desecrating the flag as he has the right to express his feelings if we can desecrate the flags every 14th August with mickey mouse, missiles, and other add ons, how is this any different???

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ihtisham

Aug 28, 2015 12:47pm

shame on those who want harsh punishments for averything.

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PostMan

Aug 28, 2015 12:51pm

Punished? Really? So which one is bad? 1 - Burning the national flag; 2 - Printed Flags on papers popularly used on August 14 celebrations and then thrown as rubbish and being trampled under feet? If you can allow the latter then surely the former should not be such a big deal especially since the subject did the act based on certain grievance and not as such hatred for the country.

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Observer

Aug 28, 2015 12:52pm

Before punishing him he must be medically examined for his mental condition. People suffering from severe mental stress also exhibit suct acts.

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Karachitte

Aug 28, 2015 01:02pm

Why punishing this poor chap just for chanting and burning the flag? In this mother land people saying the same thing on a live telephonic sermon or challenging the authority of the army and yet move to Dubai and no body dare to say any thing to them because they are leaders plundering billions of rupees. However in this case we have a poor security guard earning peanuts and we will sure give hum an exemplary punishment. Long Live Pakistan

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wajid

Aug 28, 2015 01:12pm

He is a poor security guard, may have too many complaints against the insensitive state. If a military dictator who violated his oath and subvert the law can be forgiven than this poor frustrated man should also be ignored. Our leadership should sit and analyze the root causes of such behaviors. A society where law treat the citizens differently, such incidents are natural to occur. Punishment will aggravate the bitterness and hatred

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Thechange

Aug 28, 2015 01:23pm

This is your Punjab and Lahore. Had thus happened in any other Province, there would have been hue and cry and aspertions slammed but not when it happens in brother Shabaz's Punjab.

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tamil

Aug 28, 2015 01:24pm

We give moral support to this man and in his struggle for freedom against Pakistan's hegemony.

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dilli

Aug 28, 2015 01:41pm

@Observer I agree, that was my first reaction. The kid who shouted 'the emperor is naked' should not be punished, rather his message should be considered.

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Black Sabbath

Aug 28, 2015 02:11pm

I don't think he is mentally sane...

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NoFame

Aug 28, 2015 02:14pm

Needs investigation before giving any blunt order/comments. justice needs to be served.

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Skeptical

Aug 28, 2015 02:17pm

Does the law allow the police to arrest someone for burning the national flag?

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Parvez

Aug 28, 2015 02:48pm

If he is to be arrested for desecrating the flag...... why should our so called political leaders be spared for doing much worse ?

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Red daqn

Aug 28, 2015 03:07pm

His frustration is understanable. This state is only good to persecute poor people who cant affors to defend themaelves.

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Pakistani

Aug 28, 2015 03:49pm

@tamil . Who is we here?

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AHA

Aug 28, 2015 03:52pm

Pl stop commenting on punishing him. He is showing his frustration and may be representing a large number of people with same feelings.

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AHA

Aug 28, 2015 03:53pm

Hundreds of Madrassahas and Lal Masjid kind of organisations openly oppose laws of land. Do we have guts to tackle them.

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AKB

Aug 28, 2015 07:01pm

Police should take care of his safety because he not be taken as blasphemous by religious extremists.

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M. Khan

Aug 28, 2015 07:09pm

Leave him alone, he has the right to burn national flag. All he burns is a piece of paper. Pakistani leaders have been burning the soul of the country for 67 years, no one incarcerated them. Yahya Khan burnt the united Pakistan, yet was buried with full honors. So on and so forth. Leave the poor guy alone.

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Sarwat

Aug 28, 2015 08:33pm

Did someone make sure that he was not mentally challenged?

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