ISLAMABAD: The Home Ministry has informed the Islamabad High Court that US blogger Cynthia de Richie is residing in Pakistan on an 'extended' visa and is a member of the Army's Media Affairs Wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and Khyber Agency. Pakhtunkhwa is working on film projects in partnership.
The Interior Ministry in its report submitted to the Islamabad High Court on Friday said that Cynthia Richie had stated in her application that she would work with ISPR and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in collaboration with Walk About Films to release films in the country. She has been working on various projects, adding that she has been waiting for a year for the full documentation for the formal extension of her business visa, which may take a few more days, so she has temporarily extended her visa by 30 days. Had requested an extension.
The report said that they have also attached a letter written by ISPR on December 27, 2018 stating that Walk About Films Pvt. Ltd. is launching various projects in collaboration with ISPR and some of them She is working with Walk About Films.
Additional Attorney General Tariq Mahmood Khokhar, while replying, submitted that Cynthia Richie's visa has been extended till August 31 and contrary to the manner in which the allegation has been made, he has not committed any illegal act or undesirable or state. Did not commit adversarial activity.
The court adjourned the hearing until next week for final arguments at the request of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) activist Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed, who filed a complaint against Cynthia Richie's March expiration of her business visa and opposition party leaders. Allegedly running a media campaign challenged his long stay in Pakistan.
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According to the petition, Cynthia Richie's business visa expired on March 2, 2020 and she was not entitled to stay in Pakistan thereafter. The petitioner alleged that the business visa was granted on March 18, 2019 without fulfilling the legal norms. He added that the blogger also entered incorrect information in his visa extension application submitted to the Home Ministry after his business visa expired in March.
According to the Interior Ministry report, Cynthia de Richie denied all the allegations against her, saying that her visa had expired on March 2, 2020 and that she had submitted the application before the expiration date. No extension was being processed due to the situation and all foreigners were extended so they are still residing in Pakistan under the extended visa through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Regarding her visa, Cynthia Richie had said that it is not mandatory for every business visa holder to register a company in Pakistan but to do business in partnership with other companies, adding that She was an active taxpayer in the United States and also attached copies of the Department of Homeland Revenue and other documents regarding a company registered in the US state of California under the name Different Lens Production LLC.
He said that after all the necessary verifications by the police authorities in Islamabad, he was issued an entry pass for accommodation in the Diplomatic Enclave as the police had informed him about his movements.
Regarding his visits to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the American blogger explained that interviewing tribal leaders and going anywhere in Pakistan is not a crime under any Pakistani law as they always have the proper approval of the concerned authorities. According to the Interior Ministry, she also clarified her statements on social media and dismissed the notion that she had committed a crime of defamation against any political leadership.
The report further states that their request for visa extension is being processed. According to records, the request for visa extension was received in March 2020. However, the status of Code 19 and the general extension of visa validation for foreign nationals. Due to this, action was taken on June 2 in the relevant section.
The report said that as far as the alleged activities of Cynthia Richie on social media were concerned, the ministry has so far not received any negative report from any concerned organization / agency in this regard.
According to the Interior Ministry, the issue of the American blogger's social media post is already under investigation and is being investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. It also claimed that contrary to the petitioner's claim, it had not received any negative report on the activities of the female blogger on social media and therefore no action was required by the ministry at this stage.
The report further states that the respondents are required to abide by the laws of Pakistan while residing and doing business in Pakistan
