‘New Year not Halloween’: Pakistan police arrests man for wearing ‘wolf mask’, photos prompt jokes online

Police in the Pakistani city of Peshawar arrest a young man on New Year’s eve – for wearing a costume mask to scare people pic.twitter.com/sU9f1NDcAf

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) January 1, 2021

According to a report by Saama TV, the police have identified the accused as Asad Khan, a resident of Moti neighbourhood in Peshawar. “He was reportedly making roaring noises while riding his motorcycle,” the report said.

🐺 pic.twitter.com/9KqZB4ZvHm

— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) January 1, 2021

In his defence, the man said he didn’t have any intention to scare away locals but “was wearing the mask in line with the government’s coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),” The Current said in its report.

Soon, pictures of the police arresting the man wearing the mask went viral on social media, including WhatsApp, sparking meme-fest and jokes.

He was reported to the police by a girl wearing a red riding hood https://t.co/COWVC1opkf

— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) January 1, 2021

So much respect for the police keeping the mask on him even after they’ve arrested him https://t.co/zVxNK5HOoM

— Charlie Haynes (@charliehtweets) January 1, 2021

Full video of transformation here. pic.twitter.com/w3q6tXiBlb

— Desi Gooner (@Sahil_Adhikaari) January 1, 2021

This is new year ,not Halloween 🎃

— Sami Yousafzai (@Samiyousafzai) January 1, 2021

Jokes on them. That’s a werewolf.

— war on tristmas (@fkatristan) January 1, 2021

WTH.. arrested for wearing a mask and enjoying new year.. this is too much

— Habib Shabbir (@HabibShabbir) January 1, 2021

Breaking: The bat which resulted in the Index case of #coronavirus has finally been apprehended on the final night of 2020, one of the most terrible years in human history. #COVID19 #NewYearsEve pic.twitter.com/p9LSIc71GW

— 🇵🇰𝔸𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕊𝕠𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝𝔼𝕝𝕖𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥ذیشان🇮🇪 (@Z__AC) December 31, 2020

govt ka kasoor hai: instructions should be clear and specific. i mean, when you say ‘wear your face mask’, what is that you actually mean? 😠 https://t.co/qk2YCSqnig

— Aamir Raz (@AamirRaz) January 1, 2021

Naye saal ka hero hai yeh 😆

— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) January 1, 2021

Corona scared the world. He tried to scare the Corona. Not bad?

— Zeeshan Khattak (@khattak) January 1, 2021

This is Wodehouse level comedy

— Sridhar Shelat (@SridharShelat) January 1, 2021

This looks like a scene from a Wes Anderson movie

— the world is a terrible place and Im afraid to die (@watisluvvv) January 1, 2021

Masks are scary or the bellies of policemen! You decide…🤣😂

— Ikram (@Ikram76496278) January 1, 2021

2021 off to a rocking start. This is amazing on several levels 😎😆😆😆 https://t.co/lnOQOWNInq

— Pradhyumna Bhat (@Totantillaya) January 1, 2021

Let him go, he’s still on that halloween spirit. https://t.co/KVcsS8KjAd

— True Blue (@flickfidelity) January 1, 2021

Still less scary than the policeman who is not wearing a mask. 😷 https://t.co/FNK36XLaLY

— Godot (@OddieBirdie) January 1, 2021

Because he’s the hero Peshawar deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So they’ll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dank Fright. https://t.co/8CLAZZ5gtb

— southern roller (@melika_sa) January 1, 2021