US Writer Says Pakistan Interior Minister Raped Her

Story ByLee Bullen,Sub EditorJoseph Golder,AgencyCentral European News

Credit: CEN/@cynthiadritchie

American writer Cynthia D. Ritchie has said that a former Pakistani interior minister raped her and accused ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gilani “phyiscally manhandling” her.

Ritchie made the allegations on TV interviews in Pakistan, which she made her second home, as well on Facebook Live and on Twitter where she has 263,000 followers, according to reports.

She also said that she has evidence which she will produce next week, adding: “I will be happy to go into more detail with an appropriate, neutral, and investigative journalist.”

Credit: CEN/@cynthiadritchie

Ritchie has said that Rehman Malik, 68, spiked her drink with sedatives and raped her in 2011 when he was Pakistan’s interior minister.

She also accused former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former health minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin of manhandling her in the President’s House in the capital Islamabad.

Following her comments, Malik has reportedly served the American influencer with a defamation notice of 50 billion PKR (239 million GBP).

Malik said it is beneath him to respond to such “baseless and malicious allegations” by a foreigner, adding that he will take her to court over the claims.

Credit: CEN/@cynthiadritchie

In response to the notice the writer tweeted today (Weds): So #ZardarisFilthyPPP thinks they can rape me, threaten to harm my family and try to silence me? After several years, I’ve got more than enough evidence for justice.
We’re just getting started. Chalo!”

The former Interior Minister also reportedly said that such “defamatory” interviews on private TV channels are against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Rules and demanded the media to stop broadcasting defamatory reports on him.

The notice added: “My client is constrained to demand from you as token damages, an amount of 50 Billion PKR in addition to prompt withdrawal of the above said allegation in the same manner in which it was released and posted on social, print and electronic media, within 15 days of receipt of this legal notice besides an unqualified apology from you in this regard.”

Credit: CEN

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