ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police on Saturday described US blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie’s complaint in which she sought criminal proceedings against PPP Senator Rehman Malik for allegedly raping her as baseless and opposed registration of a first information report in the matter.

The Secretariat Police submitted the report on Ms Ritchie’s case before the additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ), Javed Iqbal Sipra, and suggested that instead of proceeding further Ms Ritchie’s application might be filed to record.

The police report stated that Ms Ritchie had neither produced any evidence to prove her rape nor had she placed any material on record to show that she had been harassed.

Ms Richie had on June 17 filed an application with the Secretariat Police Station, stating that former interior minister Senator Rehman Malik in connivance with former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had employed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s media cell to intimidate, threaten, harass and defame her on social media.

She also accused Mr Malik, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, of raping her at his residence in 2011.

Last week, Ms Ritchie filed an application before the ADSJ for issuing direction to police for registration of a criminal case against Mr Malik.

The police in response to the court order submitted the report in this matter.

The police stated in the report that Ms Richie had not filed any complaint with the Secretariat Police Station regarding her rape allegations back in 2011. The police also maintained that no medical report had been attached with the application as evidence to prove that she had been assaulted.

The police termed the stance of Ms Richie doubtful in the absence of substantial evidence and inadequate for registering an FIR as the police found no truth in it.

The US blogger appeared at the police station and was questioned by a team of police officers. According to the police, she failed to give any evidence in support of her claims which seemed to be aiming at damaging Mr Malik’s reputation.

The court put off further proceeding in this case till July 8.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2020