Businessman and Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large on Economic Diplomacy, Umar Farooq Zahoor, has lodged a criminal complaint in a Lahore court following a defamatory campaign by a Norwegian tabloid, which collaborated with Indian media to malign him after his recent meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad. The meeting pertained to the Iran-US peace dialogue facilitated by Pakistan.
The complaint, filed under Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, targets the right-wing Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang (VG), its journalist Rolf J Wideroe, and prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann for repeatedly attacking Zahoor. The Dubai-based businessman, of Pakistani origin, has been honored twice with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan for his contributions.
Zahoor alleges that VG falsely labeled him as “wanted by Norwegian police” in an article published after his high-profile diplomatic engagement, which showed him meeting the American delegation including Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. He was also filmed with the delegation as they were seen off at Nur Khan Airbase by Pakistani civilian and military officials.
He claims VG has waged a “malicious and one-sided campaign” against him for over 15 years, publishing defamatory content without seeking his response. Despite legal clarifications and the closure of Interpol cases due to their political nature, VG has persisted in repeating these allegations. Previous legal action in Pakistan against VG and Wideroe resulted in a court awarding Rs3 million in damages in 2025 after the tabloid failed to retract earlier reports.
The complaint further accuses VG of targeting Zahoor in collusion with Indian media, damaging his reputation despite his global diplomatic respect, numerous honors, and significant achievements. Zahoor has provided energy solutions across Africa, closed multi-billion-dollar transactions internationally over the last decade, advised the UAE Royal family on financial discipline, and is the only Pakistani to receive the Hilal-e-Imtiaz twice within six months for attracting hundreds of millions in foreign investment and distinguished service during the Indo-Pakistan war.
the complaint, VG is known for its racist and Islamophobic stance, frequently publishing anti-Islam and anti-Pakistani content. VG and Wideroe allegedly attack Zahoor with support from Hartmann, who reportedly harbors a personal vendetta and makes defamatory remarks without evidence.
The complaint highlights that VG’s allegations about Zahoor being wanted by Norwegian authorities in a 2010 banking case are baseless, as Zahoor has not been in Norway since 2005, prior to the alleged incident. Multiple investigations in Norway, the UAE, and Pakistan, including one during the PTI government related to his ex-wife, cleared Zahoor of any wrongdoing. Both Interpol and the UAE government issued clean chits after thorough probes.
Zahoor’s legal team emphasized that VG concealed these facts, selectively publishing information to malign him. They also noted Zahoor’s prior defamation victory against VG in Lahore District Court in September 2024, where the Additional District Judge of Ferozwala ordered VG and Wideroe to pay Rs3 million in damages and litigation fees on March 15, 2025.
The lawyers argued that the recent defamatory campaign coincided with Zahoor’s involvement in the Iran-US peace process, where Pakistan is mediating talks, and repeated old false allegations. The complaint asserts that the campaign aims not only to damage Zahoor’s reputation but also to tarnish the image of the Government of Pakistan and its officials. Indian media reportedly amplified the malicious narrative against both Zahoor and Pakistan.
The complaint describes the article as a continuous assault designed to undermine Zahoor’s dignity, business, and social standing, driven by racism, personal grudges, and unlawful motives. It also seeks to harm Pakistan’s improving global image.
Supporting Zahoor’s defense, a certificate issued by the Norwegian Finnmark Police District on March 16, 2026, confirms he has no criminal record in Norway, with no registered sanctions or convictions under the Police Databases Act.
As the former Ambassador at Large for Liberia, Zahoor contends that the article revived long-settled falsehoods, perpetuating nearly two decades of defamatory claims and causing fresh reputational harm both domestically and internationally, at a crucial time in his diplomatic efforts linked to Pakistan’s mediation role.
