Cynthia Ritchie moves IHC against visa extension denial

ISLAMABAD: US blogger Cynthia D Ritchie on Saturday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), challenging the interior ministry’s decision denying her a visa extension.

Ritchie submitted an extension making the interior secretary, deputy secretary, and Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents to the case.

She stated that the interior ministry denied her visa extension without any solid reason and she has fulfilled all legal obligations to ensure her continued stay in Pakistan.

She mentioned that rejecting her visa extension was a violation of the General Clauses Act and the visa policy.

Earlier this week, the interior ministry had rejected Ritchie’s visa extension application and instructed her to leave the country within fifteen days.

The ministry stated that the visa had been extended twice during 2018-19 which was against the law, adding her Ritchie had violated her visa on several occasions.

The interior ministry on Friday had also submitted its comments to the Islamabad High court in Cynthia D Ritchie’s case, stating that the American blogger should be stopped from making controversial statements.

The court had expressed displeasure over the ministry’s comments at the previous hearing and instructed to provide relevant records of the business visa policy.