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Pakistan Gaza Board of Peace membership has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, who questioned the intent, process, and lack of parliamentary consultation surrounding the decision. The move comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined US President Donald Trump’s newly launched initiative at the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos.
Pakistan Joins Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace
The Trump-led Gaza Board of Peace aims to pursue a lasting agreement for Gaza. Leaders and officials from 19 countries, including Pakistan, signed the founding charter on the sidelines of the Davos forum. Pakistan accepted an invitation from Trump to join the initiative, marking its participation in the Gaza peace framework.
Source: The White House“
Opposition Voices Strong Criticism
Opposition leaders in both the National Assembly and Senate expressed serious concerns. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the government failed to inform parliament, questioning whether the cabinet was even consulted. He warned that the Gaza Board of Peace could create a “parallel structure” undermining existing institutions such as the United Nations and UN Security Council.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Opposition Leader in the Senate, described Pakistan’s participation as “morally wrong and indefensible.” Similarly, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticised the move for bypassing parliamentary consultation, noting that the board was not a UN body.
Ethical and Political Objections
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman condemned the initiative as a mechanism aimed at seizing Palestinian land and resources. He categorically opposed any deployment of Pakistan’s armed forces to Gaza and stressed that undermining Palestinian sovereignty would be unacceptable. Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser announced PTI’s complete disassociation from the decision.
Molana Fazlur Rehman also highlighted domestic political concerns, linking the issue to broader governance failures, and declared February 8 a “black day” to mark opposition discontent.
Government Defends Decision
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the government’s decision, emphasising that Pakistan joined the Board in alignment with national interests and the collective welfare of the Muslim Ummah. He stated that the initiative aimed at Gaza’s reconstruction and achieving a permanent ceasefire, highlighting Pakistan’s long-standing advocacy for Palestine and Kashmir.
Chaudhry urged political unity, stressing that the issue required consensus rather than confrontation, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to diplomatic engagement in the region.
