US blogger Cynthia Ritchie ordered to leave Pakistan within 15 days

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Interior Ministry has rejected US blogger Cynthia Ritchie's plea for extension in her visa, ordering her to leave the country within 15 days. On Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had expressed dissatisfaction over the Interior Ministry's recent order related to the validity of Ritchie’s visa and gave the government a final opportunity to render proper assistance. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) accepted the petition against the decision rejecting the plea for registration of a case against Cynthia Ritchie. On August 5, the Justice of Peace had rejected the plea for registration of the case against her. In the six-page verdict, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the Justice of Peace had exceeded his powers in the August 5 verdict. "Moreover, the SC directions and the law were not kept in view while passing the orders," he observed. The court directed that Rehman Malik's application for the registration of the case should be considered pending. It also directed the sessions judge to refer the matter to the Justice of Peace other than one who passed the August 5 orders for the hearing the application. The court also ordered to decide the application after hearing both parties within three weeks.