Norwegian officials, however, appear set to allow him travel to Norway in connection with festivities marking Pakistan's national day on August 14. Norway has a large Pakistani community.
The Islamic Cultural Center in Oslo's Grønland neighbourhood has invited Qazi Hussain Ahmed, leader of Pakistan's largest religious party, to Oslo. He's scheduled to speak at a religious gathering August 22 and before a Muslim students' organization from the University of Oslo two days later.
Qazi Hussain Ahmed has earlier made flattering comments about Osama bin Laden, and his party, Jamaat-e-Islami, also has hailed al-Qaeda members as heroes.
The party also has allegedly encouraged its members to shield al-Qaeda members who are fleeing US troops in Afghanistan. Because of this, both Belgium and the Netherlands blocked his entry as late as May of this year.
Officials at Oslo's Islamic Cultural Center claim Qazi Hussain Ahmed's ties to Osama bin Laden are inflated. "Who says he supports Osama bin Laden?" asked local imam Hafiz Mehboob ur-Rehman. "We don't think he's controversial. We don't support terrorism and stay on the right side of the law."
Mehboob ur-Rehman says Qazi Hussain Ahmed was invited as a party leader, but that he'll talk about "how we live in and out of Pakistan."
Visa unclear
A party official said Qazi Hussain Ahmed doesn't need a visa to Norway because he is a member of parliament in Pakistan. The Norwegian embassy in Islamabad wouldn't comment on whether he has permission to enter Norway.
"We don't comment on who has applied for or received a visa," said an embassy official.