Pakistan’s ambassador-at-large files suit against Norway tabloid over alleged JD Vance meeting
\nMonitoring Report
\nLONDON: Prominent businessman and Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador at Large on Economic Diplomacy Umar Farooq Zahoor has filed a criminal complaint in a Lahore court after a Norwegian tabloid ran a defamatory campaign against him in association with Indian media about his recent meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad related to Iran-US peace dialogue facilitated by Pakistan.
\nThe complaint, filed under Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, names right-wing Norway tabloid Verdens Gang (VG), its reporter Rolf J. Wideroe, and prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann for repeatedly attacking the Dubai-based Pakistani-origin businessman who has been twice honored with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan.
\nIn his petition Zahoor alleges the publication for falsely described him as \u201cwanted by Norwegian police\u201d in the article that was published following Zahoor\u2019s high-profile diplomatic engagement in Islamabad which showed Zahoor meeting with the American delegation: Vice Preside JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zahoor was filmed with the high-profile President Trump-appointed delegation when they were being seen off at Nur Khan Airbase by the Pakistani civilian and military leadership.
\nZahoor alleges that VG has conducted a \u201cmalicious and one-sided campaign\u201d against him for over 15 years, publishing defamatory material without seeking his response and repeating claims despite legal clarifications and despite the fact that the Interpol ended cases against him due to the political nature of the cases and the police and the courts ended cases against him years ago. He says previous legal action in Pakistan against Verdens Gang (VG) and its reporter Rolf J. Wideroe resulted in a court awarding Rs3 million in damages in 2025 after the publication failed to retract earlier reports.
\nThe complaint says the VG targeted him in alliance with Indian media and damaged his reputation because he enjoys respect in diplomatic community globally; awarded different Honors for his work, has provided energy solutions to different African countries, closed transactions of billions of dollars in last one decade in different countries; a known figure in UAE and has a privilege of advising Royal family in financial discipline; he is the only Pakistani so far who has been twice honored with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in less than 6 months by Pakistan recognizing his pivotal role in attracting direct foreign investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to the country and his distinguished service during the Indo-Pakistan war.
\nThe complaint says that VG is known for being a racist and Islamophobic paper, publishing anti-Islam and anti-Pakistani content and running a malicious campaign against Zahoor since long for his religion and race and also settling personal scores.
\nThe complaint says that VG and its reporter Rolf J. Wideroe attack Zahoor with help from Carl Graff Hartmann who for \u201csome personal vendetta against the Complainant is always ready to make defamatory and malicious remarks against the Complainant on basis of the defamatory publications of the Respondents\u201d, without any proof.
\nThe complaint informs the court that the Respondents alleged that Zahoor is wanted by the Government of Norway in a banking case that took place in 2010 but concealed the real fact that Mr Zahoor has never been to Norway since 2005 whereas the alleged occurrence took place in 2010.
\nThe complaint maintains with evidence that several investigations were held in allegations into Umar Farooq Zahoor \u2013 in Norway, United Arab Emirates and in Pakistan during the PTI govt in a case related to his ex-wife \u2013 but Mr Zahoor was cleared in all probes, based on evidence of his innocence. The letter mentions how the Interpol and the UA govt gave clean chit to Zahoor after thorough investigations.
\nZahoor\u2019s lawyer has told the court that the respondents concealed these facts in their reporting, maintaining it abundantly clear that respondents have an axe to grind with the complainant and they are only publishing limited information just in order to malign the complainant.
\nThe lawyers have told the court that Zahoor has already won a defamation case against the same paper after he filed a case in Lahore District court in September 2024, over false publications. The Additional District Judge, Ferozwala vide Order dated 15.03.2025 decided against VG and its reporter Rolf to pay a sum of Rs. 3 million as damages including litigation fee to Mr Zahoor.Zahoor\u2019s lawyers have pleaded before the court that \u201ca similar malicious campaign has also been lodged by the Respondents against the Complainant during his role in Iran-US Peace process wherein Pakistan is mediating the peace talks at Islamabad\u201d and \u201crepeated all the old false allegations in the latest article\u201d.
\nThe complaint to the court says: \u201cThe purpose of this campaign is not only to tarnish the image of the Complainant but also to taint the image of the Government of Pakistan and its functionaries. It is interesting to note that while relying on the article of tabloid, Indian media has also initiated a malicious campaign against the Government of Pakistan and Mr Zahoor. That article in question is an ongoing onslaught by the respondents against the complainant in order to tarnish his reputation, dignity, honor, business and social status on account of racism, settling personal scores and for illegal\/unlawful purposes. Besides that, the recent campaign is also meant to besmirch the improving global image of Pakistan.\u201d
\nAccording to a certificate issued by the Norwegian Police on March 16, 2026, businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor has no criminal record in Norway.
\nThe certificate, issued by the Norwegian Finnmark Police District, states that Zahoor has \u201cno criminal record\u201d under the country\u2019s police databases and has no registered criminal sanctions or convictions against Zahoor within Norwegian jurisdiction, in accordance with the Police Databases Act.
\nZahoor, the former Ambassador at large for the Republic of Liberia, argues in his complaint that the article revived long-settled allegations, reproduced lies that the tabloid has been publishing for nearly 20 years and triggered a fresh wave of reputational damage, both in Pakistan and internationally, at a time when he was involved in diplomatic activity linked to Pakistan\u2019s mediation efforts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan’s ambassador-at-large files suit against Norway tabloid over alleged JD Vance meeting Monitoring Report LONDON: Prominent businessman and Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador at Large on Economic Diplomacy Umar Farooq Zahoor has filed a criminal complaint in a Lahore court after a Norwegian tabloid ran a defamatory campaign against him in association with Indian media about his recent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":543470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-543469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n