The chief editor of Norway’s extreme-right tabloid, Verdens Gang, and its reporter, Rolf John Widerøe, have been declared as proclaimed offenders by a Pakistani court over their deliberate failure to appear before it.
The two were sought for publishing a false and defamatory story on Pakistan and Pakistani-origin businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Abid Zubair in Ferozewala declared Widerøe and the chief editor proclaimed offenders through a court declaration, published in leading Pakistani English dailies, over their failure to respond to earlier notices sent and served in Norway at the tabloid's address.
Both of them also failed to provide any evidence to back up their libellous story after the court issued summons last November.
The notice stated: “Whereas service of the defendant is not going to be effected through ordinary means. So, service of defendants is affected by proclamation in the newspaper. You, defendants are directed to appear in the court in person or through counsel failing which, ex-parte proceedings shall be initiated against you. Given under my hand and the seal of this Court. Additional District judge, Ferozewala. (25783171262).”
Dubai-based business tycoon Umar Farooq Zahoor sued Verdens Gang and Widerøe for publishing a defamatory and vindictive article against him by allegedly concealing facts to harm his reputation and services for Pakistan in the form of millions of dollars of investment.
Zahoor’s lawyers have highlighted that the tabloid’s personalised campaign is biased and Islamophobic, as it has deliberately hidden key facts while attacking Zahoor.
"It is beyond imagination how our client can threaten your tabloid while not being in Norway," they said, adding that Widerøe has been a proclaimed offender in Pakistan since 2015.
