The Sindh government has formally urged the Ministry of Interior to issue a red warrant against Norwegian journalist Rolf J. Wideroe in connection with a criminal fraud case registered in Shaheed Benazirabad involving corruption amounting to approximately Rs10 million. An official communication from the Home Department, Government of Sindh, dated April 23, 2026, reveals that the department has previously contacted federal authorities multiple times, including in November 2022, 2024, and 2025, regarding Wideroe, who serves as Chief Editor of Norway’s far-right tabloid Verdens Gang (VG).
Wideroe is wanted under FIR No. 225/2015 at Police Station A-Section Nawabshah, charged under sections 420, 406, 506/2 of the Pakistan Penal Code alongside provisions of the Telegraph Act. He has been listed as a proclaimed offender in Pakistan since 2015. The case, registered as No. 222/2015, accuses him of defrauding a Pakistani citizen, Maqsood Ali, of Rs10 million by falsely promising to secure a Norwegian passport during his visit to Nawabshah.
court documents, after receiving the substantial payment, Wideroe initially threatened Maqsood Ali with severe consequences and subsequently fled Pakistan. Law enforcement agencies secured non-bailable arrest warrants against him, and later requested the issuance of red warrants. Despite these efforts, Wideroe remains at large and continues to evade Pakistani authorities.
The Sindh Police have reiterated their ongoing search for Wideroe, who allegedly deceived Maqsood Ali by promising Norwegian immigration papers in exchange for Rs10 million. The complaint was filed on January 14, 2016, at Dhamrah Road Police Station, Nawabshah, but by then Wideroe had already left the country. Records indicate that he was in Pakistan on a journalist visa when the alleged fraud occurred.
Maqsood Ali, son of Abdul Ghafoor Arain, formally lodged the FIR at Dhamrah Road Police Station, naming Wideroe as the accused who took the money in the presence of witnesses but failed to fulfill his promise, committing cheating and criminal breach of trust. Maqsood Ali also reported receiving death threats from Wideroe over the phone after his departure, when he demanded either facilitation of the passport or a refund.
Following the FIR registration and Wideroe’s non-compliance, the Civil Judge & Judicial Magistrate-III Nawabshah issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him, declaring him an absconder. On February 27, 2016, Judge Roshan Ali Bhugio ordered the execution of these warrants in the case titled “The State vs Raolf J. Winderoe.” Police informed the court that the warrants could not be executed because Wideroe remained outside Pakistan and refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
A report from the Inspector General of Police, Shaheed Benazir Abad Range, dated February 27, 2016, confirmed that Wideroe had been declared an absconder under FIR No. 222/2015 for offenses including cheating and criminal breach of trust. Investigations revealed that he has not returned to Pakistan to assist authorities despite repeated requests. Maqsood Ali claims that Wideroe’s actions have left him financially ruined.
In a significant development, Wideroe was also declared a proclaimed offender by a court for failing to appear in relation to a separate case involving the publication of a false and defamatory story. Judge Abid Zubair of the Additional District and Session Court in Ferozwala declared both Wideroe and the VG chief editor proclaimed offenders after they failed to respond to court notices served in Norway.
