ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the Norwegian ambassador to file a strong protest after he attended the Supreme Court hearing in a case involving rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari, a move Islamabad said was an “unwarranted intrusion” into the country’s internal legal proceedings.
According to a news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the ambassador was summoned by the Additional Secretary of State (Europe) and informed that his presence in the Supreme Court during an ongoing criminal trial constituted a breach of diplomatic protocol and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The envoy was told that such behavior could be perceived as interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and must be avoided in the future.
The development came hours after the Supreme Court suspended the trial of Imaan Mazari and her husband, Abdul Hadi Mohammad Ali, who are charged 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 in official circles, ultimately resulting in the formal demarche.
The State Department maintained that Pakistan values its relationship with Norway but expects all diplomatic missions to act strictly within the bounds of international law.
