US blogger Cynthia Ritchie moves court against Rehman Malik

Published June 24, 2020
Ms Ritchie submitted her application to an additional district and sessions judge, seeking a directive for the Islamabad police to register an FIR against Rehman Malik.
Ms Ritchie submitted her application to an additional district and sessions judge, seeking a directive for the Islamabad police to register an FIR against Rehman Malik.

ISLAMABAD: US blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie on Tuesday moved a local court for registration of a first information report (FIA) against former interior minister Rehman Malik on the issue of harassment.

Ms Ritchie submitted her application to an additional district and sessions judge under Section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code, seeking a directive for the Islamabad police to register an FIR against Rehman Malik, the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

The court issued a notice to the Secretariat police station and sought its comments by June 27.

The Islamabad High Court had on Monday dismissed Ms Ritchie’s petition that challenged an order to the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing to proceed against her in connection with her alleged defamatory tweets against slain chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto.

After the court’s proceedings, the US citizen tried to dispel the impression that she ever intended to ridicule or defame Ms Bhutto. She accused Rehman Malik of telling her “horrific stories” of the deceased leader.

In response to Ms Ritchie’s fresh onslaught, former interior minister Malik served another defamation notice on the US citizen.

“As a matter of fact and the legal notice states that Senator Rehman Malik has never [had] any such conversation with her and he cannot even think about such false allegation,” the notice said.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.