Cynthia D Ritchie, an American communication specialist living in Pakistan, came in the crossfire for her explosive tweets against Asif Ali Zardari’s daughter and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leaders following the arrest of its chief Manzoor Pashteen.
Cynthia’s response to the tweet of Aseefa Bhutto Zardari condemning the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen set in motion the exchange of boorish tweets between her and PPP’s female leadership on Twitter.
Correct. Peaceful protests aren't a crime. Inciting riots in areas the security agencies have worked hard to stabilize – is.
BTW, next elections, will your party withhold water resources in Sindh unless poor voters vote PPP in office-like some reports say they've done in past? https://t.co/IZ8NXAuwFD
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) January 28, 2020
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari tweeted that peaceful protests are not a crime, Cynthia responded that while the peaceful protest is not a crime hurling statements to incite a riot in a place where security forces have worked hard to bring peace is. She asked if PPP will hold the water supply of poor farmers in Sindh to coarse them to vote for them in the next election as a few reports claim they did so in the recent election, to question Aseefa’s apparent hypocrisy.
Another social media user jumped in the Twitter conversation and asked to probe the Pakistan People’s Party for the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud that triggered the Pashtun mobilization movement under the banner of PTM.
What a cheap and petty shot! This shows your level and validates the fact that “sponsored mouth pieces” can utter any kind of crap & stoop to any level to please their sponsors!!!
— Shazia Atta Marri (@ShaziaAttaMarri) January 29, 2020
It was Cynthia’s response to the social media user’s comment that brought her in the crossfire in which she said that as per another controversy, some reports say that the deceased Naqeebullah Mehsud was dating one of Zardari’s daughters. Adding that, “subsequent fallout was conflated with misdirection and ultimately attempts to malign the state.”
Her comments generated an immense backlash from PPP’s female leadership and its advocates. Shazia Atta Mari, PPP’s parliamentarian and human rights activist, Marvi Sirmed tongue-lashed Cynthia D Ritchie for maligning Bakhtawat Bhutto Zardari.
Read more: Cynthia & Malala: East vs West?
She, however, said that as per reports and perhaps being a member of a liberal democratic party, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari is free to date/see any man. Several social media users endorsed Cynthia’s comment and claimed the reports true.
Despite the backlash, Cynthia D Ritchie posted a series of tweets to clarify her previous statements. She claimed that she is severely abused by PML-N and PPP on Twitter for confronting pro-PTM rhetoric on the platform.
Cynthia reasserted that there lies much more to PTM than the exploitation of human rights by the state. Adding that this seems to be a planned strategy to build anti-state rhetoric by major political parties to tout PTI and people like her as ‘military mouthpieces’
She claimed that her previous tweet was not meant to hurt Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari but wanted investigative journalists to examine the issue of PTM from another outlook except for human rights abuse only.
She sought the advice of her Twitter followers on whether should she apologize to Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari in person. She added that she is not an advocate of any single party in Pakistan.
2/2
✴️investigative journos should deep dive into PTM. Esp since they're using Naqeebullah Mehsud's death for their agenda; & what various informed sources know of Gulali Ismail.
✴️If I caused @BakhtawarBZ any pain, then I sincerely apologize, as this was never my intent. 🙏
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) January 31, 2020
But Cynthia maintained her tough stance against PPP and PTM and continued stirred another controversy when she accused Gulalai Ismail, the exiled PTM leader of ‘running girls for men’ and providing abortion services.
She said that the amount of extensive ‘venomous’ backlash on her tweets vindicate how they mistreat people.
Cynthia reasserted that there lies much more to PTM than the exploitation of human rights by the state. Adding that this seems to be a planned strategy to build anti-state rhetoric by major political parties to tout PTI and people like her as ‘military mouthpieces’.
Read more: Ditch Anti-Pakistan Agenda if you want Pakistan Working for You: Govt to PTM
She slammed the accusations of being Pakistan’s military pawn and said that she is only pro-Pakistan.
Cynthia again countered harsh criticism for accusing Gulalai Ismail but she is adamant about her claims against Gulalai Ismail that as according to her she has benefitted from being under investigation on her background in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Instead of hiding behind your keyboard, try a bit of investigative journalism. Research her travels to Afghanistan & how she left 🇵🇰
Only thing worse than an abuser of vulnerable populations, are fake advocates abusing the system for cash in order to destabilize their country. https://t.co/WL7uvunciH
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) January 31, 2020
Michael, we've been friends for a long time, so I'm disappointed in your rather one-sided approach. @fispahani – in an unprofessional manner – attacked me.
The usual gang dog piles when I counter their anti-Pakistan narrative.
Let them prove me wrong.
Come to 🇵🇰. I'm waiting https://t.co/3jpsTOWV8i
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) January 31, 2020
How awesome you are! A shared theme with PPP & PTM attempting to attempt to hurl insults.
You're just reinforcing what the vast majority of the rest of us suspected.
Oh, PS: if you're trying to squeeze your way back into power, this is NOT the way to do it.
Hugs & Kisses.😚 https://t.co/fvBuYejaFo
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) January 30, 2020
Meanwhile, Cynthia D Ritchie was derided when she posted her image in a Peshawar Zalmi jersey expressing her support for the PSL franchise.
You 'journos' are doing a great job reporting 'breaking news'. I'm sure you'll find more newsworthy items to report soon, unless your main source of maligning 🇵🇰 is ending; otherwise I suggest expanding your portfolio-your time is up. #Youth are showing🇵🇰 for what is really is. https://t.co/AGtUHG23YG
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) January 30, 2020
