Court dismisses petition against US blogger

Petitioner maintained police were not registering FIR despite filing of application

ISLAMABAD: A sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday dismissed a plea to register a case against US blogger Cynthia Dawn Ritchie for allegedly defaming former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on social media.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) worker Waqas Ahmad Abbasi had filed a petition stating that the police were not registering a case against Cynthia despite the filing of an application and requested the judge to issue an order in this regard.

Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar heard the petition.

Cynthia’s counsel Imran Feroz Malik contended that her client had raised voice for her right and added that different first information reports cannot be registered on the same accusation.

The court dismissed the petition observing that it was devoid of merits.



The court in its verdict stated that according to the police, the matter pertained to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the agency was already conducting an inquiry on a matter of the same nature.

Earlier, while talking to media, Cynthia had said that she had complete faith in the courts of the country.

She noted that the police and FIA were conducting an impartial inquiry and assured the authorities of her complete cooperation.

Claiming that her tweet on Benazir was taken out of context, she maintained that the slain leader was the first female premier of Pakistan and a source of pride for the country.

“PPP is known as a party that is democratic, liberal and a protector of women rights. Why did not PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto condemned [acts of PPP leaders against Cynthia] and why is my voice being suppressed?” she asked.

“If this can happen with me being a US citizen then what would be happening with the rest of the women in the country and why is the government silent on these issues?” she further questioned.

On Monday, the Islamabad High Court dismissed Cynthia’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 Benazir Bhutto.