Rehman Malik sends second legal notice to Cynthia Ritchie over talk show allegations

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

Rehman Malik sends second legal notice to Cynthia Ritchie over talk show allegations

Nadir Guramani Published June 10, 2020

Islamabad-based American blogger Cynthia Ritchie has accused Senator Rehman Malik of raping her in Islamabad in 2011. — Screengrab/File

PPP Senator Rehman Malik on Tuesday sent a second legal notice to Pakistan-based American blogger Cynthia Ritchie, asking for an "unqualified public apology" and withdrawal of the "false, bogus and malicious" statements that she made during her June 7 appearances on two TV talk shows.

Ritchie had last week accused Malik of raping her in Islamabad in 2011, and stood by her allegations during subsequent interviews.

Earlier on Sunday, Malik had sent a legal notice to the blogger through his lawyer, asking for a public apology and withdrawal of rape allegations within 15 days.

The senator's second legal notice, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, accuses Ritchie of making "false, bogus and malicious" statements about Malik raping her during her appearances on two talk shows on June 7 — anchorperson Muhammad Malick's Breaking Point with Malick and Geo TV's Naya Pakistan hosted by Shehzad Iqbal.

Due to the "false, frivolous and baseless allegation", the reputation of Malik has "adversely suffered at the national and international level", it says, adding that the senator has a right to "redeem his position" after her TV appearances.

Malik, through the notice, has demanded from Ritchie Rs50 billion in damages, a "prompt" withdrawal of the allegations "in the same manner in which [they were] released and posted on social, print and electronic media" within 15 days of receiving the notice, as well as an "unqualified apology".

In case of non-adherence, Malik has threatened to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against Ritchie, the notice sent through his lawyer says.

In a series of tweets earlier today, Ritchie responded to Malik's second legal notice by noting that she never received the first one and that she looks forward to facing Malik in court.

She said that Rs50 billion "could do a lot of poverty alleviation and rape prevention/representation programmes".

Ritchie, who was at the centre of a controversy earlier this month when she tweeted what the PPP described as "derogatory and slanderous remarks" about slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, had accused Malik of raping her in a live video posted on her Facebook page.

She also accused 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" — a charge denied by both the senior PPP leaders.

Pakistan

Nadir Guramani is a journalist and anchorperson for Dawn News (TV) with 17 years of experience. His reporting covers parliamentary affairs, foreign policy, politics, climate change, and human rights. He can be found on X at @nguramani.

In a bombshell, US blogger Cynthia Ritchie accuses PPP's Rehman Malik of rape

Senator Rehman Malik sends legal notice to blogger Cynthia Ritchie over rape allegation

PPP moves FIA against blogger Cynthia Ritchie for 'slanderous' tweet on Benazir

Mansoor Ahmad

Jun 10, 2020 12:19am

If people don't have proof, then they would attack your personal life—and Ritchie has done the same.

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bhaRAT©

Jun 10, 2020 12:24am

Go Cynthia...may the force be with you, dear.

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Erum Aziz

Jun 10, 2020 12:41am

time will expose everything...

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Aman

Jun 10, 2020 12:42am

what an angle faced Rehman Malik!!!

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S. Nasheed Ahmed

Jun 10, 2020 12:45am

In the interest of justice & human rights, we should give Ritchie a fair chance.

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Mustafa

Jun 10, 2020 12:51am

She seems to be fighting on tv and Twitter and not court. A foreign national raped in a country in 2011 and she stays on for 9 years and says nothing??? Never left and complained in her own country???

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Jun 10, 2020 01:37am

Why is she uncomfortable after enjoying all possible comforts? Interesting isn't it!

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Haroon

Jun 10, 2020 01:48am

It is laughable how Pakistani elite always attach a monetary value to their defamation. So if Cynthia Ritchie pays him 50 billion rupees, would that restore his honour?

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Dan

Jun 10, 2020 01:48am

She has her allegations record at US embassy as per her account and US always keeps record of everything... Infact they are so good, they will have more record than her reporting her rape to US embassy official. Agree with Erum Aziz! time will expose everything.

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Syed A. Mateen

Jun 10, 2020 01:53am

There are numbers of questions that have come up after Cynthia D. Ritchie accused PPP leadership. She said she has been probing anti-Pakistan activities and investigating an ethnic organisation. These are duties of law enforcing agencies and not of a foreigner who is staying in the country for unknown reasons. Cynthia D Ritchie said that she has been "investigating PTM with the assistance of supporting agencies and the military" for the past couple of years which led to unearthing of links of anti-state activities between PTM and PPP. Cynthia D Ritchie surfaced in lime light after her tweet against Benazir Bhutto, Bilwal Bhutto, Sherry Rehman and alleging Rehman Malik, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Shahabudin. How come her activities during past 10 years while she is living in the country were not noticed by LEA's as what actually she is upto which has led debate in print, electronic and social media. She is trying to portray that she is "loyal to Pakistan more than the King".

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Jun 10, 2020 01:57am

@Mansoor Ahmad, What is the proof of rape? How can a woman prove that she was raped 9 years ago? Rape has no witnesses

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Ahsan Gul

Jun 10, 2020 02:03am

Rahman Malik a subservient of zardari is a liar and dishonest person. He should not be trusted based on his past and money laundering corruptions. Sincerely

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Ajaz

Jun 10, 2020 02:25am

PTI at work.

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SachBol

Jun 10, 2020 02:39am

Show starts now....

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Independentthinker

Jun 10, 2020 02:56am

Waited 9 years before coming out? Is she on for her 15 minutes of fame? What a way to do it!

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Syed Husain

Jun 10, 2020 03:30am

Senator Rehman Malik, based on your denial, it appears that it was not a rape. Did Ms. Ritchie consent to it? Let the facts be facts and that we should get to the bottom of it. Since Rehman Malik is a dual citizen, let us make sure that he does not disappears like Nawaz Sharif has done.

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Ahmed Malik

Jun 10, 2020 03:48am

She works for the intel.

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P L Bakhshi

Jun 10, 2020 03:55am

No lady worth her name, status and more so her respectful gender is expected to refer and put such disparaging, slanderous allegations, that too on electronic media for global information unless she has positive proofs which can withstand legal scrutiny. The lady being highly qualified that too in legal field apparently will weigh all legal pros and cons before fishing in troubled waters. She has to be now quite careful, conscious of her personal safety cum security and the relevant proof cum evidences that will prove her sizzling allegations.

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Ranga

Jun 10, 2020 04:21am

I trust her, what does she gain by lying?

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White Noise

Jun 10, 2020 04:39am

Where there is smoke, there is fire & its never easy for women to come forward and claim something like this.

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Observer

Jun 10, 2020 06:42am

And what if she is right....

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Hafeez Rahman

Jun 10, 2020 07:19am

false, frivolous and baseless. false, bogus and malicious" just about sums up the PPP Rs 50 billion is to compensate Malik, which he would have made if PPP had been in goverment.

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Tanvir

Jun 10, 2020 07:19am

Malik Sahib, do whatever you do, the genie is out of the bottle. It will be hard to put it back in because the PPP and the Zardari gang is well known for their corruption and criminal behavior. Remember how the PM Jilani's son was involved in drug smuggling?

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Adnan A

Jun 10, 2020 07:22am

Rahman Malik and Gillani are no angel at all too

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Advocate Jafri

Jun 10, 2020 07:29am

She’s simply pawn hired to malign ppp to give up and agree on reversal of 18th amendment,which is evident from the fact that initially she accused the Malik Rehman & Late Benazir Bhutto and now she’s taking the name directly of ppp being incompetent. I bet this is the only issue she’s given task of. Points to ponder upon includes why a foreigner has been given authority to prove into anti Pakistan activities of political parties of Pakistan, why she stayed in Pakistan almost a decade if she’s raped or otherwise maltreated?why her two campaniles couldn’t work and suspended within two years time in US? What’s her source of income in Pakistan? Alas, she’ll go scot-free even if her allegations proved to be wrong during the trial.

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KAJ

Jun 10, 2020 07:30am

RM can not escape the punishment if proper investigations are carried out.

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Bipul

Jun 10, 2020 07:30am

Pakistan should treat foreign guests with dignity.

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THE MORNING STAR. MD.

Jun 10, 2020 07:32am

I wonder how a women without any real credentials can get easy access to the highest office in the land.

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N Abidi

Jun 10, 2020 07:34am

Why going to one political leader after another ? Only thing is that politicians needs staff that clear people's to have meeting with their leaders,never alone,they should have guest signed in and out,with secure environment !

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N Abidi

Jun 10, 2020 07:35am

@Adnan A, neither is she ,

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Jawaid

Jun 10, 2020 07:52am

Does he even worth 50 billion? Making joke out of himself

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Jawaid

Jun 10, 2020 07:53am

I seems like I am watching a movie. The way things are moving is no less than a well directed mystery script..

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Uzay Yazdani

Jun 10, 2020 07:54am

Rs50 billion. All ego.

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Moeazze

Jun 10, 2020 07:56am

Stay strong Ritchie against these convicted corrupt politicians of Pakistan

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Fawad bhai

Jun 10, 2020 08:08am

50 Bn.. Dam fund!

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Fawad bhai

Jun 10, 2020 08:11am

@THE MORNING STAR. MD., Connections... Political connections...

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Dr. Azhar Hussain

Jun 10, 2020 08:34am

"Due to the "false, frivolous and baseless allegation", the reputation of Malik has "adversely suffered at the national and international level", does anyone honestly believe this or rather does he himself believe his own statement to be true?

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Zafar iqbal

Jun 10, 2020 08:39am

@Jawaid , Exactly

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rathindra nath chattopadhyay

Jun 10, 2020 08:39am

Really? Too late?

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Jun 10, 2020 09:41am

Legal notice served to US blogger Cynthia D.Ritchie is one of tactics used by Rehman Malik is only to harass the applicant to withdraw the allegation and an attempt to show his innocent face before national and international forums.(Texas)

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Chrís Dăń

Jun 10, 2020 11:27am

@THE MORNING STAR. MD., her credentials are real.

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Chrís Dăń

Jun 10, 2020 11:28am

@Tanvir, true.

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Laeeq

Jun 10, 2020 03:57pm

Esay way to shut-up some one!

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Jun 10, 2020 07:40pm

@Moeazze, Endorse the views.(Texas)

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kit kit

Jun 10, 2020 11:43pm

To all those saying why report after nine years? This is a highly ignorant standpoint. I know people who have reported after 30yrs. Sometimes the opportunity wasn't there to report, sometimes the victim has tried to put it behind her and breaks down years later acknowledging the true impact over the years. There can be many reasons.

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