American blogger Cynthia Ritchie told to leave Pakistan within 15 days

Ministry of Interior has denied the request of a further extension in the visa of American blogger Cynthia Ritchie, telling her to leave the country within 15 days.

Earlier, the Interior Ministry had changed its stance on Ritchie’s stay in Pakistan and told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that she was not associated with any government institution of the country.

The court had on Tuesday sought the business visa policy from the ministry on September 22 in the case seeking Ritchie’s deportation. The additional attorney general had informed the court that the blogger had stated before the ministry that she was not associated with any government institution of the country.

At this, Chief Justice Athar Minallah noted that previously the ministry’s stance was that Ritchie was serving some government institution in Pakistan. He said the ministry had not adopted a clear stance on the matter so far.

Expressing displeasure with the representative of the Interior Ministry, the bench remarked what orders the ministry had passed.

“Is there any law or policy?” the chief justice asked.

He also asked whether the ministry had any documents, which tell the visa policy for foreigners.

The court asked if tomorrow someone came on a business visa and gave a statement against the prime minister, would they be would be treated in the same way.

The bench also ordered the lower court to decide the registration of First Information Report (FIR) against Ritchie after listening to the matter again.

The court also stopped the blogger from giving any controversial statements against politicians, to which she had assured the court that she would not give any controversial statements against any politician.