NCCIA summons three Norwegian nationals in defamation inquiry

LAHORE: Pakistan’s National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has issued notices to three Norwegian nationals, directing them to appear before an investigating committee in Lahore in connection with a defamation inquiry, according to official documents.

The notices, issued under inquiry number ENQ-CCRC-Lahore-1878/26, ask Verdens Gang (VG) reporter Rolf J Wideroe, prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann and the newspaper’s editor to appear in person on May 13 at 12pm at the Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Gulberg II, Lahore.

According to the notices, the three individuals have been asked to record their statements and present their account before investigators. The notification states:

You are directed to appear in person before the undersigned to record your version.

The notice also warns that failure to appear would be taken as an indication that they do not wish to offer any defence. It says:

it will be assumed that you have nothing to present or state in your defence

The documents were issued and signed by Sub-Inspector Nabil Hussain of the Cybercrime Reporting Centre Lahore.

Complaint filed by Umar Farooq Zahoor

The NCCIA action follows a criminal complaint filed in a Lahore court by businessman and Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large on Economic Diplomacy Umar Farooq Zahoor.

The complaint was lodged after the Norwegian tabloid VG published what Zahoor described as a defamatory campaign against him in association with Indian media. The matter was linked to his recent meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad regarding the Iran-US peace dialogue facilitated by Pakistan.

The complaint was filed under Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code. It named Verdens Gang (VG), its reporter Rolf J. Wideroe and prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann for what the complaint described as repeated attacks on the Dubai-based businessman of Pakistani origin.

Allegations in the complaint

Zahoor’s lawyers have alleged that the publication falsely referred to him as wanted by Norwegian police in an article published after his diplomatic engagement in Islamabad.

That engagement, included a meeting with members of the American delegation, namely Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The inquiry notices mark the latest development in the case, with the three Norwegian nationals now formally called to appear before investigators in Lahore in relation to the defamation matter.