A sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday again issued a notice and sought reply from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) while hearing a petition seeking registration of a case against US blogger Cynthia Dawn Ritchie for allegedly defaming former premier Benazir Bhutto on social media.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSG) Jahangir Awan heard a petition filed by a citizen named Nadeem Mughal seeking registration of a case against Cynthia.
The FIA Cybercrimes Circle did not submit a reply after which the court again issued a directive to the investigation agency and sought a reply.
Cynthia appeared before the court along with her counsel Imran Feroz Malik.
Earlier, while hearing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Islamabad President Shakeel Abbasi’s request to register a case against the US blogger, the court had directed the FIA to proceed against her in accordance with the law.
The judge in his order observed: “There is no denial from proposed accused [Ritchie] that she created this tweet on social media. Hence, a crime has been committed falling under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act [PECA] 2016 and FIA is competent to investigate the matter in accordance with the law. Under the circumstances, the application is hereby accepted and FIA is directed to proceed in accordance with law, conduct an inquiry and if there is sufficient material, register an FIR.”
Cynthia then filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the court’s verdict, which was subsequently turned down.
Meanwhile, the sessions court issued a notice to the US blogger for not refraining from passing remarks against Senator Rehman Malik despite the court orders.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSG) Nasir Javed Rana heard a contempt of court petition filed by Malik.
Malik’s counsel adopted the stance that the court on June 29 had ordered Cynthia not to make any statement against the former interior minister.
The counsel said that despite the court order, the US blogger continued to give statements on social media.
The court issued a notice directing the US blogger to appear in person or through her lawyer on July 13.
On June 29, a session court had restrained Cynthia from passing remarks against Malik.
Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani admitted a suit of Rs50 billion by Malik against Cynthia and ordered that she appear before the court on July 13.
Earlier, Malik had served two legal notices to Cynthia asking for an "unqualified public apology" and withdrawal of the "false, bogus and malicious" statements that she made against him.
The US blogger, who was at the centre of a controversy last month when she tweeted what the PPP described as "derogatory and slanderous remarks" about slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, had accused Malik of raping her in 2011 in a live video posted on her Facebook page.
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Cynthina case is very weak . If she can't approved her case beyond the shadow of doubt then her case is dismissed. If she has kept bundle of evidence then it will have turn into her favour. I think that this case has lose its value and strength due to delay i.e 11 years. It is inevitable that the net result it will not go into Cynthina favour.