Pakistani marathon runner and journalist Mona Khan has been detained in Greece for reportedly waving Pakistani flag during a hiking trip, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday, quoting sources.

The Greek police arrested Mona Khan on Friday noon and shifted her to jail. She will be produced in a court on Monday.

Mona Khan’s coach Malik Muhammad Yousuf told 24News TV channel that the Greek police misbehaved with the Pakistani athlete and also confiscated her mobile phone.

Yousuf said Mona, who is also an anchorperson on a state-run TV channel, was taking part in the hiking leaving behind her seven-year-old son in Athens. He said he last spoke to Mona Khan an hour before her arrest, and she had mentioned that she was being questioned by the police for waving Pakistani flag.

In an audio clip circulating on social media, Mona Khan can be heard saying that she was detained by the police after she said that she would wave the Pakistani flag.

Mona Khan claimed she was mistreated by the Greek police and appealed to the Pakistani government to take action for her release.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Embassy in Athens has taken up the mater with the Greek authorities, said a statement issued in Islamabad on Saturday by the Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

Mumtaz Zahra said Pakistani officials have sought consular access to Mona Khan.

The Pakistani Embassy is also looking into the reasons behind Mona Khan's arrest, the Foreign Office spokesperson said and added the Pakistani mission is also in contact with Mona Khan's running coach Malik Yousuf.

 

Reporter Anwar Abbas