ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned Norway’s ambassador to lodge a strong protest after he attended Supreme Court proceedings in the case of human rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari, a move that Islamabad said amounted to “unwarranted intrusion” into the country’s internal legal affairs.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the ambassador was summoned by the Additional Secretary Foreign Affairs (Europe) and informed that his presence in the Supreme Court during an ongoing criminal hearing constituted a violation of diplomatic protocol and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The envoy was informed that such conduct could be construed as interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and should be avoided in future.
The development came hours after the Supreme Court stayed the trial proceedings against Imaan Mazari and her husband, Abdul Hadi Mohammad Ali, who face charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for allegedly posting controversial material on social media.
The Norwegian envoy’s appearance in the court gallery during the high-profile hearing triggered strong reactions within official circles, ultimately leading to the formal step.
The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan values its relations with Norway, but expects all diplomatic missions to act strictly within the bounds of international law.
