Pakistan ambassador at Large Zahoor hits back, files case over Norway lies

LONDON/LAHORE: Businessman and Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large on Economic Diplomacy Umar Farooq Zahoor has filed a criminal complaint in a Lahore court after a Norwegian tabloid launched a defamatory campaign against him in collaboration with Indian media over his recent meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad regarding the Iran-US peace dialogue facilitated by Pakistan.
The complaint, submitted under Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, names Norway’s right-wing tabloid VG, its reporter Rolf J. Wideroe, and prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann for repeatedly targeting the Dubai-based Pakistani-origin businessman, who has been awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz twice by the Government of Pakistan.
According to the complaint, Zahoor says the publication falsely labelled him as “wanted by Norwegian police” in an article published after his high-profile diplomatic engagement in Islamabad. The meeting showed Zahoor with the American delegation, including Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Zahoor was also seen with the delegation when they were being seen off at Nur Khan Airbase by Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership.
Zahoor alleges that VG has been running a “malicious and one-sided campaign” against him for more than 15 years, publishing defamatory content without taking his version and repeating old claims despite legal clarifications. He stated that Interpol ended cases against him due to their political nature, while police and courts had already closed the cases years ago.
He further stated that previous legal action in Pakistan against VG and reporter Rolf J. Wideroe resulted in a court awarding Rs3 million in damages in 2025 after the publication failed to withdraw earlier reports.
The complaint says VG targeted him in alliance with Indian media and damaged his reputation despite his respected standing in diplomatic circles worldwide. It adds that Zahoor has worked on energy solutions in African countries, completed billion-dollar transactions in different countries over the last decade, and is known in the UAE for advising royal family members on financial matters.
It also states that he is the only Pakistani so far to receive the Hilal-e-Imtiaz twice within less than six months for attracting hundreds of millions of dollars in direct foreign investment to Pakistan and for his distinguished service during the Indo-Pakistan war.
The complaint describes VG as a racist and Islamophobic publication that publishes anti-Islam and anti-Pakistani content and has been running a malicious campaign against Zahoor for a long time based on religion, race, and personal grudges.
It further says that VG and reporter Rolf J. Wideroe are assisted by Carl Graff Hartmann, who, due to personal vendetta, continuously makes defamatory and malicious remarks against Zahoor based on false reports without proof.
The complaint tells the court that the respondents claimed Zahoor was wanted by the Government of Norway in a banking case from 2010 but hid the fact that he had not been to Norway since 2005, while the alleged case was from 2010.
It also states that several investigations were conducted against Umar Farooq Zahoor in Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan during the PTI government in a matter related to his ex-wife, but he was cleared in all probes based on evidence proving his innocence.
The complaint mentions that Interpol and the UAE government also gave him a clean chit after detailed investigations.
Zahoor’s lawyer told the court that the respondents deliberately concealed these facts, showing clearly that they have an axe to grind and are publishing limited information only to malign him.
The lawyers also informed the court that Zahoor had already won a defamation case against the same publication after filing a case in Lahore District Court in September 2024 over false reports. The Additional District Judge, Ferozwala, through an order dated March 15, 2025, directed VG and reporter Rolf to pay Rs3 million as damages, including litigation costs.
Zahoor’s legal team also argued that a similar malicious campaign was launched by the respondents during his involvement in the Iran-US peace process, where Pakistan is mediating talks in Islamabad, and that the same old false allegations were repeated in the latest article.
The complaint states that the purpose of this campaign is not only to damage Zahoor’s image but also to harm the reputation of the Government of Pakistan and its officials.
It further says that Indian media also started a malicious campaign against Pakistan and Zahoor based on the tabloid’s article, making the latest publication part of an ongoing effort to damage his dignity, honor, business, and social standing due to racism, personal revenge, and unlawful motives.
According to a certificate issued by the Norwegian Police on March 16, 2026, Umar Farooq Zahoor has no criminal record in Norway.
The certificate, issued by the Norwegian Finnmark Police District, confirms that Zahoor has no criminal record in police databases and no registered criminal sanctions or convictions within Norwegian jurisdiction under the Police Databases Act.
Zahoor, the former Ambassador at Large for the Republic of Liberia, stated in his complaint that the article revived old settled matters, repeated false claims published for nearly 20 years, and caused fresh reputational damage in Pakistan and internationally at a time when he was engaged in diplomatic efforts linked to Pakistan’s mediation role.