Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to join former US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” has sparked a major political storm at home, with opposition leaders accusing his government of “selling Palestinian blood” and surrendering Pakistan’s moral stance to appease Washington.
The sharpest attack came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohel Afridi, a senior leader of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Afridi described Sharif’s participation in the Gaza Peace Board as a “betrayal of the Muslim Ummah” and alleged that both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir had prioritised political interests over Palestinian lives.
“By signing this deal, Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir have compromised the blood of Gaza’s people,” Afridi said, adding that the decision was taken without consulting the Pakistani public and deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims worldwide.
Afridi further accused the Sharif-led government of hypocrisy, stating that leaders who once labelled Imran Khan a “Jewish or Zionist agent” were now openly sharing a global peace platform initiated by Donald Trump. “Those who accused Imran Khan of being a Zionist agent are now proving through their actions that they themselves serve Israeli interests,” he alleged.
The KP Chief Minister also claimed that had Imran Khan not been imprisoned, such a move would never have been allowed. “Imran Khan would never compromise Palestinian lives for political or diplomatic gains,” Afridi asserted.
Opposition Slams ‘Appeasement Politics’
Opposition parties across Pakistan have strongly criticised Islamabad’s participation in the Gaza Peace Board, calling it a “shameful betrayal” of the Palestinian cause. Several leaders accused the Sharif government of bowing to US pressure and abandoning Pakistan’s traditional pro-Palestine position to remain in Washington’s good books.
They argued that joining the forum without a national debate undermined Pakistan’s dignity and moral standing in the Muslim world.
Government Defends Decision
The Shehbaz Sharif government, however, has defended its move, saying that staying away from the forum would have isolated Pakistan diplomatically. Officials said participation in the Board of Peace was a “well-considered decision” aimed at helping stop atrocities in Gaza rather than endorsing any foreign agenda.
“The criticism is misplaced,” government sources said. “Pakistan’s presence on this platform allows it to raise the Palestinian issue directly and work towards reducing violence.”
Trump’s Board of Peace
Donald Trump formally launched the Board of Peace on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The initiative includes leaders and senior officials from 19 countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Argentina, and Hungary. Trump described the forum as a global platform not only to address the Gaza crisis but also to resolve conflicts worldwide.
Despite these assurances, the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s participation continues to deepen, further polarising the country’s already tense political landscape.
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