US blogger Cynthia Ritchie moves IHC against rejection in visa extension

ISLAMABAD – US blogger Cynthia Dawn Ritchie on Saturday challenged Ministry of Interior’s move to reject extension in her visa in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The foreign national has made Home Secretary and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general respondents in the case.

Ritchie pleaded that she had been staying in Pakistan for over a decade, adding that she provided all relevant documents for getting extension but the request was rejected.

On September 2, the Ministry of Interior rejected the visa extension application of Cynthia Dawn Ritchie, a US blogger, and asked to leave the country within 15 days.

According to a spokesman of the ministry, the visa extension application of Cynthia Dawn Ritchie had been rejected and instructions had also been issued to her for leaving the country within fifteen days.

The order comes after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) expressed anger over the explanation given by the ministry in Cynthia’s case and gave it a final chance to render proper assistance to court. 

Meanwhile, the American blogger claimed in her tweet that the interior ministry had rejected her application "under pressure".

"The MoI — under pressure best known to them — has for the first time, in my over 10+ years in Pakistan, rejected my visa application. No reason has been given. We have a right to file an appeal & will do so. A higher forum must entertain my application & upon merits grant visa," she said.

The MoI -under pressure best known to them- has for the first time, in my over 10+ years in Pakistan, rejected my Visa application. No reason has been given. We have a right to file an appeal & will do so. A higher forum must entertain my application & upon merits grant visa.

— Cynthia Ritchie ✍🎥 (@CynthiaDRitchie) September 2, 2020

The US blogger has been accused leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party including former prime minister yousaf Raza Gilani and Rahman Malik of harassment. 

Activists of the PPP had moved the court against her slanderous remarks.