Final arguments sought for registration of case against Rehman Malik

A sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday sought final arguments from the counsels of former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani and ex-interior minister Rehman Malik in the next hearing on an application by US blogger Cynthia Dawn Ritchie seeking registration of a case against the latter.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Jahangir Awan heard the US blogger’s plea.

Cynthia appeared before the court along with her lawyer Imran Feroz.

Gillani’s counsel requested the court to grant time for submitting his power of attorney which the judge accepted.

Malik’s lawyer said that a case seeking deportation of the US blogger was pending before the Islamabad High Court.

He requested the judge to fix it for hearing before the sessions court after August 3.

Cynthia’s lawyer adopted the stance that Malik was intentionally trying to defer the hearing of the case.

The court sought final arguments from the respondents and adjourned the hearing until August 5.

Last month, Cynthia had accused Malik of having raped her in Islamabad in 2011 — a charge the senior PPP leader strongly denied.

"In 2011, I was raped by the former interior minister Rehman Malik. That's right, I'll say it again. I was raped by the then interior minister Rehman Malik," she said a live video on her Facebook page, also accusing former federal minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of "physically manhandling" her while Gilani was staying at the "President's House".