Norway defends envoy's presence at SC hearing
Norway has defended the presence of its ambassador at a Supreme Court hearing in Islamabad as perfectly "in line with international law", days after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a demarche to the envoy of the Scandinavian country.
The case pertains to the hearing of the husband-and-wife lawyer duo, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. Norwegian Ambassador Per Albert Ilsaas attended the case proceedings on Thursday, causing a stir in court and on social media.
The Foreign Office had summoned the Norwegian envoy and urged him to "adhere to the established norms of diplomatic engagement" after his "unwarranted" attendance.
Norwegian media outlet Dagbladet reported that Cecilie Roang, senior communications adviser at the country's foreign ministry, said: "Such lawful presence and observation of a court hearing in the recipient state is within the functions of embassies and is in line with international law".
She added that such a presence was something that Norway, along with other countries, did in many places all over the world, particularly in "matters of public interest at the place of duty".
"Reporting back home about events in the country of service is a core task of diplomacy. Legally attending public court hearings is not an unusual way to gather knowledge," said the senior communications adviser at the Norwegian ministry.
"Noting that his actions amount to interference in the internal affairs of the country, the ambassador was urged to adhere to the established norms of diplomatic engagement, as outlined in the relevant articles of the Vienna Convention," Pakistan had said in a statement earlier.