Ministry tells IHC: Cynthia not involved in any illegal, anti-state activities

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior on Friday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the US citizen, Cynthia D Ritchie's visa has been extended up to 31st August and she is not involved in any illegal or anti-State activities.

A single judge bench of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a petition filed by Secretary General Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Rawalpindi City, Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad, against Cynthia Dawn Ritchie with the request to deport the US citizen.

Clearing the US citizen from her involvement in any wrongdoing, the Interior Ministry submitted the report in the IHC, telling the court that her visa is valid till August 31, 2020, as the visas of foreigners were extended till that date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The report said Ritchie had also filed a separate application for an extension of her visa. The decision on the application would be made after August 31 in accordance with the law.

The reply submitted by the ministry stated, "Since the validity of business visa of Ms Cynthia D Ritchie has been extended till 31-08-2020 by virtue of general visa extension given to all foreigners in Pakistan due [to] COVID-19 situation, while her application for extension of visa was received in MoI and is under process, there is no violation or illegality on the part of respondent to stay in Pakistan till 31-08-2020."

It added, "Her application for visa extension beyond 31-08-2020 will be decided after receipt of requisite input/clearance from the concerned stakeholders in accordance with [the] visa policy. Since this ministry has not received any adverse report on the activities of the respondent on social media as alleged by the petitioner, no action is required by MoI at this stage. However, the Respondent is required to strictly comply with the laws of Pakistan while staying and doing business in Pakistan."

Upon that the IHC bench directed the ministry to provide a copy of the decision to the parties and deferred the hearing till July 24th for further proceedings.

The petitioner stated before the court that the visa of the respondent No 1, Cynthia, had expired in March, and that she has applied for an extension.

He further informed that the respondent had entered Pakistan on a "business visa".

The petitioner asserted before the court that Cynthia was a foreign national and was staying in Pakistan without a valid visa.

He added that her visa had expired and yet respondents were not proceeding against her in accordance with the law.

His counsel contended that she was not a registered voter and yet had been allowed and facilitated to interfere and comment on political matters.

He argued that she was being facilitated to tarnish the image of the country by bringing political leadership into disrepute through false and concocted statements/allegations. He also argued that activities of the Cynthia were in violation of the terms and conditions of the visa, which was earlier granted to her, while the respondents were refusing to act in accordance with law. In his petition, Iftikhar cited Cynthia, secretary Cabinet Division, secretary Interior, director general (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan as respondents. After the hearing, while talking to the journalists, the petitioner's lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa and leader of the PPP said he was not satisfied with the document presented by the ministry.

He alleged that the ministry had tried to mislead the court and the interior secretary was not taking action according to law. Khosa asserted that they would prove that the visa was incorrect and that she was involved in anti-State activities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020