Police say they lack jurisdiction to proceed against US blogger

Published June 13, 2020
Court hears PPP activist’s petition against Cynthia. — Twitter/File
Court hears PPP activist’s petition against Cynthia. — Twitter/File

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police on Friday told the additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) that they lacked jurisdiction to proceed against US blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie for allegedly defaming slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto on social media.

ADSJ Zeba Chaudhry was hearing an application filed by PPP activist Waqas Abbasi.

Mr Abbasi filed a complaint with the Banigala Police Station for registration of the First Information Report (FIR) against Ms Cynthia. However, the station house officer of the police station told the court that since the case was related to defamation on social media, the cyber crime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was the relevant forum for taking up the matter.

Court hears PPP activist’s petition against Cynthia

He said the applicant when approached the police station had been advised to approach the relevant forum for redressal of his grievance.

The US blogger initially tweeted against Ms Bhutto and later she accused former interior minister Rehman Malik of raping her in 2011. She also accused former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and former minister of health of physically manhandling her.

The police requested the court to consign the application to the record.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.