ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday summoned the Norwegian Ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and issued a formal demarche over what Islamabad described as “unwarranted interference” in the country’s internal judicial matters.
The action came after the envoy attended a hearing in the Supreme Court related to lawyer and human rights activistIman Mazari earlier in the day, a move, according to Pakistan, violates diplomatic protocol and international law.”
According to a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that the Ambassador’s presence at an ongoing court proceeding amounted to a “breach of diplomatic norms and the Vienna Convention 1961,” specifically Article 41, which obligates diplomats to respect the laws of the receiving state and refrain from involvement in its internal affairs.
Officials conveyed Pakistan’s “serious concern” and told the Ambassador that such conduct gives the impression of attempting to influence or observe sensitive domestic judicial processes, which Islamabad considers unacceptable.
The Foreign Office also noted that the incident was not isolated, pointing to what it described as a recurring pattern where certain Norway-based NGOs allegedly support individuals or groups viewed by Pakistan as hostile to the state.
Reiterating Pakistan’s position on sovereignty, the Ministry stressed that the country would “not tolerate any form of external interference in internal matters” and expects all diplomatic missions to abide strictly by international conventions governing their conduct. The Norwegian ambassador was urged to ensure full compliance with diplomatic obligations and to avoid any actions that could be construed as interference going forward.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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