An Islamabad additional district and sessions judge on Monday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct an inquiry against US blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie for allegedly defaming former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on social media.
The court was hearing a petition filed by PPP leader Advocate Raja Shakeel Abbasi, who sought registration of a criminal case against Ritchie. Abbasi had filed the petition under Section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code, under which a judge may direct the investigation agency to register a first information report.
The ruling, issued by additional sessions judge Jehangir Awan today, noted that Ritchie had not denied that she had posted the tweet and “hence, a crime has been committed falling under Peca Act 2016”. The FIA is, therefore, “competent” to probe the matter further in accordance with the law.
