Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has come under fire after joining US President Donald Trump’s so-called 'Board of Peace', with opposition parties accusing him of undermining Palestinians’ right to self-determination and seeking to curry favour with the American leader.
The backlash follows an announcement by Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Wednesday confirming the country’s participation in the US-led initiative, which was established late last year under Trump’s Gaza plan.
On Thursday, the party of former prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), formally rejected the government’s decision to join the 'Board of Peace', arguing that a move of such international importance should not be taken without transparency or broad political consultation.
In a post on social media platform X, PTI said it did not accept the decision and stressed that "decisions of such international significance must always be undertaken with full transparency and inclusive consultation with all major political stakeholders".
PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan expanded on the party’s objections during a speech in parliament on Thursday evening, saying, "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the American pact without due consideration. It is essentially an implementation of an American agenda, and the issue should have been discussed in parliament and among political and religious parties."
He further argued that "Pakistan has become part of a plan aimed at disarming the resistance in Gaza".
Calling on the government to disclose the terms of the board’s charter, Khan added that "The Palestinian cause is very important to us, and there will be no compromise on the Palestinian people's right to self-determination".
Responding to the criticism, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the decision, insisting it was taken in the interests of the Palestinian people and in line with Pakistan’s long-standing position on Palestine.
He said Pakistan had consistently raised the Palestinian issue at international forums and noted that UN Security Council resolutions had called for a permanent ceasefire and the reconstruction of Gaza.
“Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace aims to support these efforts while safeguarding both Palestinian and national interests,” he said.
Chaudhry urged lawmakers not to turn the issue into political point-scoring, calling instead for unity and consensus within parliament.
In its statement on Wednesday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the country hoped Trump’s Board of Peace would lead to "concrete steps … towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire", as well as increased humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
The decision has also drawn criticism from other opposition figures. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman accused Trump of creating the board on his own terms, selecting its members himself and retaining the position of chairman.
“If we then associate hopes of peace, economic stability and a better future for Palestinians with such a board, it would be nothing but deceiving ourselves,” he said during a speech in the National Assembly.
Fazlur Rehman also questioned Pakistan’s broader foreign policy, claiming decisions were shaped by external pressure and that the country had failed to prioritise its own national interests.
Meanwhile, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas described Pakistan’s participation as morally wrong and unacceptable. In a post on X, he argued that the initiative stripped Palestinians of their rights, weakened their claim to self-determination and sidelined the United Nations.
Abbas warned that Pakistan, which frequently invokes UN resolutions in relation to issues such as Kashmir, risks damaging its credibility by joining the board.
The controversy comes as Pakistan seeks to strengthen ties with the US and several Middle Eastern countries.
Islamabad recently signed a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, while talks are reportedly underway to expand military cooperation with Jordan and Egypt.
Reports have also highlighted the close relationship between Trump and Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, after the US president invited Munir to a private lunch at the White House.
While domestic opposition to the move intensifies, several countries have expressed reluctance to join the newly launched board, citing concerns over Trump’s sweeping authority over the initiative.
The body, which is chaired for life by Trump, is set to begin by addressing the Gaza genocidal war before expanding its remit to other global disputes.
Under the board’s structure, member states are limited to three-year terms unless they contribute $1 billion each to fund its activities, in return for permanent membership.