Rehman Malik recommends, ECL, security for Cynthia Ritchie

Islamabad: The letters being circulated on electronic media regarding Senator A. Rehman Malik’s demand of placing the name of US Citizen Cynthia Dawn Ritchie on Exit Control List (ECL) and provision of full proof box security to her during her stay in Pakistan are being endorsed officially.

PPP senior leader, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and former Interior Minister Senator A. Rehman Malik on June 8, 2020 had demanded the placing of US Citizen Cynthia Dawn Ritchie on Exit Control List (ECL) and had directed Secretary Interior, Inspector General Police Islamabad and Chief Commissioner Islamabad to provide her full proof box security during her stay in Pakistan. Meanwhile, he has also transferred the suo moto notice proceedings to Senate Standing Committee on IT and telecommunication. Senator A. Rehman Malik had taken suo-moto notice on the highly defamatory tweets by US Citizen Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie regarding Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and had directed FIA and PTA for reports and necessary legal action against her.

Since Ms. Cynthia D Ritchie has begun character assassination of Senator A. Rehman Malik too by levelling baseless, frivolous and concocted allegations as reaction to the notice he has taken against her therefore ethically he considers it against his towering principles as senior politician to pursue the suo moto case against Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie.

In a letter to Secretary Interior issued by Secretary Senate Standing Committee on Interior on June 8, 2020, regarding placing Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie, it is stated “the undersigned has been directed by the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior to state that a foreigner lady, Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie, may be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) to ensure her presence in the Courts as she has already been dragged in the Court in various cases.”

It adds “the matter of defamation of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is also pending before the FIA and other Courts in Pakistan. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has been two times Prime Minister of Pakistan and was the first woman Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Using objectionable, derogatory, immoral, indecent and defamatory remarks against such personality is an offence cognizable under Cyber Crimes Act.” The letter reads “It is, therefore, desired by the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior that Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie may be placed on Exit Control List (ECL) to ensure her presence before the relevant authorities and in the Court of Law.”

In another letter issued to the Secretary Interior on the same date, the Secretary Senate Standing Committee on Interior states “the undersigned has been directed to state that it has been brought into notice of the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior that a Senior Journalist and author, Mr. Azaz Syed in his programme on his YouTube Channel has expressed his apprehensions.

“The life of US Citizen, Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie is in danger in Pakistan, she could be harmed with any malicious intentions and she should be provided proper security”.

The notice reads “In view of the above serious apprehensions expressed a senior journalist, the Chairman Committee has desired that the Chief Commissioner and I.G. Police, Islamabad should ensure the foolproof security during the stay of American national, Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie in Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik in a surprising but highly appreciable move referred the matter regarding defamatory remarks against Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by an American national ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie to the Senate Standing Committee On Information Technology & Telecommunications.

In a letter to Chairman Senate Standing Committee on IT and telecommunication, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator A. Rehman Malik writes that Senate Standing Committee on Interior had taken notices of the objectionable, immoral, indecent and defamatory remarks against Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by an American national namely Cynthia Dawn Ritchie through her Twitter account/social media and FIA & Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) have already been directed to submit a detailed report on the matter demanding a proper action under Cyber Crimes Act/PECA, which is still awaited. He expresses in letter that the above notices were taken purely on merit as nobody has the right to defame anyone on the social media as it is against Cyber Crimes Act.

He adds “While the matter is pending before the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie has started a malicious campaign against me, after the notices taken as Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior were reported in the media. He said that since she has levelled false allegations against him hence ethically speaking he feels that he should not continue to pursue the above matter in this situation. He further writes “I, as Chairman of the Interior Committee therefore, referring the above matter to your Committee as you have got equal jurisdiction in this matter. The staff of Senate Standing Committee on Interior was directed to deliver the complete file of the Notices taken by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior vide letters dated 29th May, 2020 & 30th May, 2020, to your office to take up the matter further as per the Senate rules.

Senator A. Rehman Malik was highly appreciated for his move of transferring the case to another committee and also for his demand of provision of full proof security to Ms. Cynthia Dawn Ritchie in Pakistan. It must be mentioned here that Senator A. Rehman Malik has not yet responded to Ms. Cynthia Ritchie on her defamatory tweets and not even has passed any derogatory remarks against her in reaction. He says that he considers it bellow his dignity to respond to such allegations as he believes in getting the justice through court of law for which he has already served her two notices.