ISLAMABAD- Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong demarche to the Norwegian Ambassador after he attended the Supreme Court hearing of the Imaan Mazari case on November 11 — a move Islamabad says violated diplomatic protocol and interfered with the country’s internal judicial proceedings.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said the ambassador’s presence inside the courtroom amounted to a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), particularly Article 41, which requires diplomats to respect the host nation’s laws and avoid involvement in its domestic affairs.
“This is not the first incident of such interference,” a statement from the Foreign Office read. It further pointed to Norwegian NGOs, particularly those operating under the guise of human rights advocacy, which Pakistan claims have been supporting elements involved in anti-Pakistan activities.
The statement also asserted that the Norwegian Ambassador’s action is equivalent to an attempt to influence the judicial process in the country, which constitutes a serious violation of diplomatic responsibility and international law.
Pakistan made it clear that it would not tolerate any foreign interference in its domestic matters, reiterating the country’s sovereignty and commitment to international diplomatic standards. The Foreign Ministry’s response underscores Pakistan’s stance as an independent, self-governing state, determined to protect its sovereignty against external pressures.
