ISLAMABAD: Senator Rehman Malik, through his lawyer, has sent a legal notice to US blogger Cynthia D. Ritchie asking for a ‘public apology’ and withdrawal of rape allegations within 15 days.
According to the notice, Rehman Malik — former interior minister — met Ritchie in his office in the Ministry of Interior in the presence of Azam Swati’s daughter regarding a visa issue. “Any other meeting regarding your visa with [Malik] is out of the question,” the notice added.
Malik, through the notice, has demanded Rs500 million from Ritchie in damages, “prompt” withdrawal of the allegations “in the same manner in which it was released and posted on social, print and electronic media” within 15 days of receiving the notice.
The notice further states, “In case of non-adherence, Malik will initiate civil and criminal proceedings against Ritchie.”
Referring to Ritchie’s tweet regarding Benazir Bhutto, it says Malik “noticed all of a sudden you emerged on [the] social media scene and began a smearing campaign” against the late prime minister, adding that subsequent action was taken by PPP leaders.
“Since you failed in your accusation, you started his character assassination by levelling bogus and disparaging allegations on June 5 through your Twitter and Facebook accounts,” the notice added.
Due to the “false, frivolous and baseless allegation”, the reputation of Malik has “adversely suffered at the national and international level”, it added.
Ritchie in a live video on her Facebook page on Friday, she also accused former federal minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and ex-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of “physically manhandling”.
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