Rehman Malik strongly denies Cynthia Ritchie’s allegations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Rehman Malik has vehemently denied the allegation against him by US columnist Cynthia Ritchie.

The PPP leader’s spokesman issued a statement and said that the purpose behind the US columnist’s allegations was to damage Rehman Malik’s reputation.

“This American woman made the inappropriate allegations against Rehman Malik upon the instigation of a certain individual or a group,” said the spokesman on behalf of the former interior minister.

The spokesman added that Rehman Malik always spoke up in favour of women’s rights and respects Ritchie but will not directly to the accusations. 

He termed the allegations as “baseless, shameful, and inappropriate” meant to dent his reputation.

The allegations against Rehman Malik came at a time when he took notice of the accusations against late Benazir Bhutto as the chairman interior ministry, he added.

He said consultation was underway to initiate legal proceedings over the allegations against Cynthia Ritchie.

READ MORE: Ex-PM Gilani denies allegations by US columnist

Cynthia Ritchie’s allegations

Cynthia Ritchie, who now resides in Pakistan, made the startling accusations against senior members of the PPP and alleged that former interior minister Rehman Malik raped and sexually assaulted her in 2011.

In a video posted on social media, Cynthia Ritchie claimed that she was raped by Rehman Malik in 2011 while he was serving as interior minister.

She accused two other PPP leaders, Yousuf Raza Gilani and former health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin of manhandling her on a separate occasion.

She added that she would share details with investigative journalists and that she has already shared the story with people she trusts including a member of the US embassy in case of any untoward incident.

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has also denied the allegations against him.