IHC issues stay order on Cynthia Ritchie’s deportation

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a stay order on the Interior Ministry’s decision rejecting a visa extension for US blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition and stopped the Interior Ministry from deporting her. The court also issued notices to the interior ministry, Director-General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other respondents.

The court also ordered the blogger to submit an affidavit detailing her allegations in the document. Justice Minallah remarked visas of Pakistanis are rejected every day and no reason is provided, but assured that justice will be served.

Last week, Ritchie has filed a petition in the IHC challenging the interior ministry’s decision to deny her a visa extension and ordering her to leave the country within fifteen days.

She has argued that she fulfilled all legal obligations required to ensure her continued stay in Pakistan, but her extension was turned down without any explanation. She had called for higher authorities to allow her to stay here if the application was denied.

The interior ministry had earlier told the court that her visa had been extended twice during 2018-19 against the law as she was issued a business visa even though her company was not registered in Pakistan.