Norwegian envoy issued démarche over SC attendance

FO says 'unwarranted intrusion' into judicial matters unacceptable

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office on Thursday summoned the Norwegian ambassador to lodge a strong protest after he attended Supreme Court proceedings in a case of rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari, a move Islamabad said amounted to an "unwarranted intrusion" into the country's internal judicial matters.

According to a news statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the ambassador was called in by the Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) and informed that his presence inside the Supreme Court during an ongoing criminal hearing constituted a breach of diplomatic protocol and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The envoy was told that such conduct could be construed as interference in Pakistan's internal affairs and must be avoided in future.

The development came hours after the Supreme Court suspended trial court proceedings against Imaan Mazari and her husband, Abdul Hadi Mohammad Ali, who are facing 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 reaction within official circles, ultimately resulting in the formal démarche.

The Foreign Office maintained that Pakistan values its relationship with Norway but expects all diplomatic missions to act strictly within the bounds of international law.