PPP moves FIA against blogger Cynthia Ritchie for 'slanderous' tweet on Benazir
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PPP has filed a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) cybercrime wing against Cynthia D Ritchie, a blogger from the US who has based herself in Pakistan, for "hateful comments and slander" against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
PPP Islamabad President Advocate Shakeel Abbasi filed the application on Thursday against Ritchie for posting on Twitter "very derogatory and slanderous remarks" about Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari's marital life.
Ritchie made the comment on a tweet discussing the recent violent confrontation between model Uzma Khan and a woman named Amna Usman, who accused the model of having a relationship with her husband of 13 years and used this allegation to justify her violent treatment of the model.
According to the PPP's application, Ritchie's remarks "have caused immense pain and agony to the millions of people who revere and pay their utmost respect to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto".
Ritchie's tweet garnered a strong reaction from PPP leaders and supporters, with Sherry Rehman saying: "Attributing such filth to a champion for women’s rights, a martyred prime minister degrades the writer of this bot-handle more than anything else."
The application has called for immediate action against Ritchie for her "untrue and false" remarks.
"Your office is requested to take immediate action and initiate proceedings against this woman as prescribed by the law and under your mandate."
"A photocopy of the tweet, a true portrayal of her sick and disgusting mind is attached with the application," Abbasi said in his letter.
A member of the FIA cybercrime wing confirmed the development to Dawn.com and said that the application is being forwarded to the relevant officials for further action.
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Comments (109) Closed
May 29, 2020 01:53pm
if mistakenly an expat is staying here in pak and building a positive image of pak .. the ppp dumbos are attacking her ..
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May 29, 2020 01:55pm
Truth always hurt
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May 29, 2020 01:55pm
Cynthia is right to expose such mycologist mindset.
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May 29, 2020 01:56pm
She should be kicked out with immediate effect ..
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May 29, 2020 01:59pm
Where is PPP support for Uzma Khan after violence and abuse on her and her sister?
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May 29, 2020 02:04pm
As usual PPP is whining and trying to fume emotions of rudderless masses. Truth always hurts and most people are too blind to see it.
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May 29, 2020 02:07pm
First Trump has a problem with twitter, now PPP!
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May 29, 2020 02:07pm
PPP is the worst ever thing to have happened to Pakistan.
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May 29, 2020 02:10pm
PPP thinks everyone is a subject to the dynasty
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May 29, 2020 02:21pm
The same PPP who sit with PML-N who was responsible for forging fake pictures of BB and distributing them through choppers.
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May 29, 2020 02:25pm
The big question - Why did Benazir allow and endorse corruption? What kind of champion does that.
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May 29, 2020 02:25pm
We are not subjects or slaves of you PPP vaderas.
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May 29, 2020 02:27pm
Cynthia is such a beautiful person. Shame on power intoxicated PPP.
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May 29, 2020 02:28pm
Is what she saying a lie?
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May 29, 2020 02:31pm
Let see the honest and credible action against the foreign writer.
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May 29, 2020 03:01pm
Where was PPP when Reham Khan was publishing her book about IK? Let her express herself according to the spirit of freedom of expression.
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May 29, 2020 03:17pm
@Haseeb, why?
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May 29, 2020 03:41pm
Cynthia has a beautiful soul, which is evident from her work and dedication to the various causes.
Not sure why else a privileged white American (who isn’t forced to live in Pakistan by the US Embassy or the UN) would spend so much time getting to know a developing country.
She deserves to be Heard whether it’s about the PPP or BB. The malfeasance and corruption within the PPP rank and file is known to all and should be exposed at the earliest.
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May 29, 2020 03:41pm
Cynthia has a beautiful soul, which is evident from her work and dedication to the various causes.
Not sure why else a privileged white American (who isn’t forced to live in Pakistan by the US Embassy or the UN) would spend so much time getting to know a developing country.
She deserves to be Heard whether it’s about the PPP or BB. The malfeasance and corruption within the PPP rank and file is known to all and should be exposed at the earliest.
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May 29, 2020 03:48pm
You know she may be right about what she is talking about. In every society, in the high echelons, such things happen, more so in a country like Pakistan. But she should not have said it. Our former prime minister is not alive. We may disagree with her policies, but we should respect her personal life and choices.
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May 29, 2020 03:59pm
The true facts obviously sting.
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May 29, 2020 04:36pm
Was Benazir champion for women’s rights? I seriously doubt.
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May 29, 2020 05:18pm
W/o reproducing/reporting her Twitter text, this is an incomplete report. Let people see her text, as is often done in most reports, so that they can judge by themselves whether or not it is what it is being alleged.
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May 29, 2020 05:37pm
Tweet story looks very true, it is better to release that tweet and its content.
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May 29, 2020 05:37pm
What did she say?
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May 29, 2020 05:41pm
Nobody is hurt here.
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May 29, 2020 05:43pm
Bravo Cynthia
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May 29, 2020 05:47pm
Is there any Freedom of speech left?
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May 29, 2020 05:58pm
@Haseeb, PPP and other should learn to live with freedom of speech
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May 29, 2020 06:00pm
@Haseeb, why???! For telling the truth!
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May 29, 2020 06:05pm
Let truth be spoken.
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May 29, 2020 06:16pm
Its not what you know, its what you can prove in court.
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May 29, 2020 06:25pm
PPP did the right thing.
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May 29, 2020 06:40pm
Her being on the payroll of Pakistan to promote Pakistan is a bad idea. We do not need to pay for such Consultants.. She fights with Pakistanis on conflicting views and non Pakistanis do not take her seriously. Furthermore, she has no credentials to her portfolio. Why can't we have Twitter bots just do her job.
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May 29, 2020 07:08pm
Ritchie if true will stand by her story. Further probe by FIA will further unveil the obnoxious way of life these politicians happen to live.
In the interest of clean environment and PPP own interests PPP should revoke its complain from FIA. Let FIA do it’s original job serving the Federal Govt, FIA was formed to serve Federal Govt, not suppose to indulge in political rages. Ma’am Ritchie has every freedom of expression, speech, press & media.
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May 29, 2020 07:12pm
Does PPP has moral authority?
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May 29, 2020 07:21pm
Well done brave Cynthia for exposing the truth.
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May 29, 2020 07:56pm
@Nauman,
Have they ever done a "right thing"?
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May 29, 2020 08:06pm
@Haseeb, WHY?
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May 29, 2020 08:07pm
@Mani, Agree 100%.
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May 29, 2020 08:08pm
That lady is correct and truth is always a bitter pill
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May 29, 2020 08:16pm
She just narrated known facts nothing more, why is it so perturbing to PPP ? it shouldn't be publicized I agree.
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May 29, 2020 08:19pm
Have not read her tweet but Benazir and her husband relationship was no hidden secret. I would say good on those people who highlight the plight of poor helpless people and especially women of my beloved country.
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May 29, 2020 08:32pm
So what was the tweet?
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May 29, 2020 09:06pm
Poorly written article, no mention of what Cynthia said about BB
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May 29, 2020 09:25pm
Nothing will happen. We all know who is her employer
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May 29, 2020 09:33pm
Facts are always painful
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May 29, 2020 09:37pm
What did she say????
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May 29, 2020 09:52pm
Please add me to the list of those who think nothing more of Benazir but a woman of low intelligence who was only glorified because of her family name, and does not even deserve 1% of the 'respect' her party demands for her. OK PPP, now come and sue me.
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May 29, 2020 10:11pm
I disagree with PPP politics and claims of revere leadership but PPP should bring forward facts with factual responses instead of FIA complaints.
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May 30, 2020 12:22am
@Mani, I swear ! You are so correct
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May 30, 2020 01:02am
Ms. (late) Benazir Zardari is not martyred rather she was assassinated.
She was corrupt and convicted by the Swiss court on corruptions.
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May 30, 2020 01:06am
The Zardaris, Bhuttos, Talpurs, Memons, Shahs, Chandios, Durranis, Khuhros, Bilawals, Gabols, Shahlas, Wahabs, Ghanis, Haiders, Patels, etc., were and are corrupt to the core and bone.
PPP is the most corrupt regional political party in Pakistan.
Truth always hurts.
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May 30, 2020 01:12am
Corrupt politicians are no saints and getting killed in the way of ambition by another ruthless politician does not qualify the dead one for religious elevation. One literally took the bullet and their tombstone became the stepping stone for someone else to come into power and play political games. Religion has nothing to do with the dirty and corrupt politics in the poor country. So back away from using Islamic terms and titles frivolously for the undeserving, and don’t make a mockery of religion.
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May 30, 2020 01:13am
PPP is a small regional most corrupt party which is based on some rural areas of Sindh.
This party can't fool the Sindhis by Sindh-Card because the majority of Sindhis is realising how backward, poor and uneducated they are by voting this party.
The Sindhis are awaking.
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May 30, 2020 01:14am
PPP is only in words a party but in actuality bunch of dishonest people who had and still are planning to loot Pakistan.
No harm done if someone outsider shows reality to the misguided Pakistani public about the nature of zardari, Bilawal and their associates. Sincerely
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May 30, 2020 01:22am
@Sindhi,
Mr. Sindhi,
Correct.
The Sindhi waderas, lords, etc., of PPP are most brutal, most corrupt, most criminal, most cruel, most gruesome and most inhumane.
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May 30, 2020 01:24am
@Haseeb,
Mr. Haseeb,
" She should be kicked out with immediate effect .. "
Why?
Because she is telling the truth.
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May 30, 2020 01:26am
@Adda Saien,
Mr. Adda Saien,
The downfall of the most corrupt regional political party PPP has already started.
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May 30, 2020 01:35am
She needs punishingment
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May 30, 2020 01:38am
@Mani,
Mr. Mani,
" PPP is the worst ever thing to have happened to Pakistan. "
Congratulations to you on your comment related to the bitter truth.
PPP was not, is not and will not be loyal to Pakistan.
Its chairman Mr. (late) Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto broke Pakistan because he was a power hungry person.
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May 30, 2020 01:39am
benazir was killed during her private time. attending her own jalsa. for her own profits. for her personal political gains or carrier. nothing to do with state job or actibity. so not every woman who dies is shaheed. there is no justification to call her shaheed.
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May 30, 2020 01:41am
zardari and baynazeer relationship everybody in ppp knew how bad it was furthermore baynazeer mentality and low standards were revealed when she choose a known corrupt criminal as spouse because she was herself criminal corrupt minded
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May 30, 2020 01:46am
She is right got to expose the bigots. Don't know this women but Cynthia if you truly love Pakistan talk about corruption of the elite like Zardari junior and family.
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May 30, 2020 02:37am
What about Freedom of Speech ?
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May 30, 2020 02:40am
Benazir was NOT a Champion of Women's Rights. She did nothing to promote women's rights. She only promoted her own power & wealth.
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May 30, 2020 02:42am
Benazir was NOT a martyr. She did not die in the service of Pakistan.
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May 30, 2020 02:46am
Even the PPP & Benazir's immediate family members did not pursue the criminal investigation & court proceedings. Then why are they now crying crocodile's tears ?
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May 30, 2020 02:48am
The lady's massive corruption brought great disrepute & dishonor to the nation around the world.
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May 30, 2020 02:50am
Even if she was a PM, she was a bad example.
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May 30, 2020 02:54am
PPP leaders & workers committed many human rights violations, thuggery & hooliganism during the party's several tenures in power.
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May 30, 2020 03:10am
Both Presidents GIK & FAKL issued serious charge sheets against PM BB for constitutional violations causing her unceremonial dismissals from office in 1990 & 1996. The second such charge was also upheld & validated by the SC.
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May 30, 2020 03:19am
Corruption is BB's only legacy today.
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May 30, 2020 03:26am
Famous British author & historian, William Dalrymple, once stated in Time, Jan 2008, that "she was a part of the problem, not a part of the solution".
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May 30, 2020 03:35am
Benazir is long dead?
Who cares?
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May 30, 2020 03:42am
Could Ritchie's Tweet give us a clue to the true motive & plot behind BB's alleged murder in Dec 2007 ?
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May 30, 2020 04:55am
@bhaRAT©, can you cite any sources to back up CRs claims about BB as this is the first time I ever heard something like this being linked to BB. I know other things about ZB and BB but this is shocking....
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May 30, 2020 05:18am
Isn't PPP promotes free speech? Let it be then what ever she said. After all a lot of PPP members are of the same stature. Hurling swears and allegation is there forte too.
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May 30, 2020 06:33am
@bhaRAT©, what do you even mean bro?
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May 30, 2020 06:50am
@Haseeb, why?
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May 30, 2020 07:26am
PPP truth is even wrost then fiction in the living and the gone to soon ! No compliants filed aganist fake money accounts and money laundering, that does not affects the millions of followers !
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May 30, 2020 07:29am
An NAB inquiry is warranted!
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May 30, 2020 08:44am
Even bloggers are not allowed to express their opinion.
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May 30, 2020 09:19am
Benazir is no saint
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May 30, 2020 09:56am
Where is freedom of expression/ media now?
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May 30, 2020 09:59am
Imagine an American citizen living in Pakistan criticising PTI and its patrons, and supporting PPP and PML(N).
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May 30, 2020 10:00am
@Nauman,
Mr. Nauman,
" PPP did the right thing. "
May I correct you?
The most corrupt, criminal, small and regional political party PPP based on some rural areas of Sindh always did, always does and will always do right thing like corruptions, crimes, lootings, money-launderings, mal-administrations, openings the benami (fake and unknown) accounts, etc.
Who denies these facts and truths?
It may be possible that you don't know and it is duly understood to the majority (not the minority - the criminals and corrupts) of Pakistan that this party was, is and will be corrupt to the core and bone.
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May 30, 2020 10:06am
Such a shame
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May 30, 2020 10:32am
BB was as corrupt a politician as you can get. She literally took a bullet and others more ruthless and corrupt used her tombstone as a stepping stone to rise to power and unleash further corruption. Nothing to do with religion and only driven by greed and power. Don’t call her what she was not and mock the religion.
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May 30, 2020 10:54am
A committee should be formed to analyse this.
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May 30, 2020 11:34am
@AZAM AKBAR , well said.
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May 30, 2020 12:00pm
PPP has nothing else to talk about. Pathetic PPP.
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May 30, 2020 12:29pm
She should be prosecuted for defaming Pakistan's first female prime minister.
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May 30, 2020 12:34pm
Who has given PPP the authority to claim that "millions of people revere and pay their utmost respect to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto"? PPP does not have any representation in vast majority of Pakistani people due to their corruption and destruction of the country's economy. Can they describe anything positive and significant done by Mohtarma for Pakistan? In fact she only managed to impose a most corrupt individual of the country on people of Pakistan as the president of the country for 5 years. Also how the status of a shaheed be given to the lady? Her death does not at all constitute Shahada.
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May 30, 2020 12:50pm
Good on you Cynthia
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May 30, 2020 01:24pm
@Afi,
Mr. Afi,
Very good comment.
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May 30, 2020 02:35pm
PPP should be ashamed of moving against such a beautiful woman!
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May 30, 2020 02:39pm
@Imtiaz Ali Khan,
Mr. Imtiaz Ali Khan,
" She is right got to expose the bigots. Don't know this women but Cynthia if you truly love Pakistan talk about corruption of the elite like Zardari junior and family. "
You are 100% right.
This most corrupt and criminal party PPP was curse on Pakistan and now on Sindh.
However, it has become a small party which is based on some rural areas of Sindh.
Nobody expects any positive aspect from from this regional party which is corrupt to the core and bone.
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May 30, 2020 02:46pm
The most commenters have written about the real faces of the elites, waderas, lords, etc., of the most corrupt regional political party PPP which is based only on some rural areas of Sindh.
Mr. Narendra Modi could become a Muslim, Israel could become an Islaamic state but the members of the PPP could never become honest.
This is written on the wall and everyone can read this easily.
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May 30, 2020 05:49pm
Cynthia is RIGHT in Exposing the truth.
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May 30, 2020 08:15pm
But the tweets is true. right
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May 30, 2020 09:13pm
Sherry, do you have any evidence, what Ritchie said is untrue? I fully agree with Ritchie's tweet. Truth has been told
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May 31, 2020 12:32am
Ms. Cynthia Ritchie's point of view (that why main accused male(s) is/are spared every time) is, no doubt, CORRECT.
But, it would have been better, had she avoided giving reference of a lady who is no more in this world (to offer any clarification).
'No one should be condemned unheard', is the spirit of fairplay and justice.
Making a fair analysis/report of a situation requires even-handed treatment.
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May 31, 2020 02:38am
Why is it that no one from the educated & enlightened classes has anything good to say about Benazir ?
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May 31, 2020 07:33am
She is absolutely right,
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May 31, 2020 07:38am
@Afi, Absolutely correct. Corrupt family top down. ZAB creator of Bangladesh, wrecker in chief of Pakistan
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May 31, 2020 08:47am
Let the truth come out. We as tax paying public deserve to know the reality about the books written by Roshan Mirza and Amit Rai.
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May 31, 2020 03:00pm
@Shah,
Mr. Shah,
Dynasty politics is obsolete in Pakistan.
No chance on Pakistan base.
Only in some regions.
Nothing else.
The people are fed up with these goons, corrupts, criminals, cronies, culprits, etc.
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May 31, 2020 03:11pm
@Talha,
Mr. Talha,
" That lady is correct and truth is always a bitter pill. "
You are right and I second you.
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