An Islamabad additional district and sessions judge has ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to initiate an inquiry against Pakistan-based American blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie for allegedly issuing defamatory remarks against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on social media.
The order was issued during a hearing of the complaint filed by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Advocate Raja Shakeel. In the order, the additional sessions judge Jehangir Awan notes that Ritchie had not denied having posting the defamatory tweet which makes it clear that a crime has indeed been committed. He then directed the investigation agency to hold investigation into the issue as per the law. The court also said that if there is 'sufficient material' [against Ritchie], an FIR should be registered against her.
Further, the court stated that the allegations against Benazir Bhutto were made 12 years after her murder and that Ritchie had not issued any statements in this regard before any 'competent authority'. "So after lapse of 12 years, her [Ritchie's] disclosure to malign the character of deceased leader is apparently based on mala fide", the court observed.
The order was issued during a hearing of the complaint filed by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Advocate Raja Shakeel. In the order, the additional sessions judge Jehangir Awan notes that Ritchie had not denied having posting the defamatory tweet which makes it clear that a crime has indeed been committed. He then directed the investigation agency to hold investigation into the issue as per the law. The court also said that if there is 'sufficient material' [against Ritchie], an FIR should be registered against her.
Further, the court stated that the allegations against Benazir Bhutto were made 12 years after her murder and that Ritchie had not issued any statements in this regard before any 'competent authority'. "So after lapse of 12 years, her [Ritchie's] disclosure to malign the character of deceased leader is apparently based on mala fide", the court observed.