LAHORE/LONDON:Pakistan’s National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned three Norwegian nationals to appear before an investigating committee in Lahore in connection with a defamation-related inquiry, according to official notices.
The notices, issued under inquiry number ENQ-CCRC-Lahore-1878/26, directs three individuals — right-wing Norway tabloid Verdens Gang (VG) reporter Rolf J. Wideroe, prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann and VG’s editor — to appear in person before investigators on May 13 (tomorrow) at 12pm at the Cybercrime Reporting Center in Gulberg II, Lahore, to record their statements and present their version of events.
The notification states: ‘You are directed to appear in person before the undersigned to record your version.’ It further warns that in case of non-appearance, ‘it will be assumed that you have nothing to present or state in your defence.’
The NCCIA has taken action after businessman and Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large on Economic Diplomacy Umar Farooq Zahoor filed a criminal complaint in a Lahore court after the Norwegian tabloid VG 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.
