Pakistan PM Sharif faces backlash at home over joining Trump’s Gaza peace board

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined a group of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, to sign the charter for US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza, hailing the move as a significant diplomatic step.

The signing, which took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, quickly triggered a political backlash in Islamabad, with opposition parties accusing the government of acting without transparency and branding the decision “morally indefensible”.

Trump formally unveiled the Board of Peace as part of the second phase of a 20-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. According to reports, the board is also intended to function as a new international mechanism for resolving global disputes, with a mandate extending beyond Gaza to include governance capacity-building, reconstruction, investment promotion and large-scale funding mobilisation — raising concerns among some governments that it could undermine the United Nations.

Opposition demands referendum

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, led the criticism, saying it did not accept the government’s decision to join the initiative.

In a statement, PTI said decisions of such international importance required “full transparency and inclusive consultation with all major political stakeholders”, including parliamentary scrutiny.

Party leaders argued that Pakistan’s participation in international peace efforts should strengthen the UN’s multilateral framework rather than create “parallel structures” that could complicate global governance.

PTI called on the government to withdraw from the initiative until a full consultative process — including the involvement of Imran Khan — is completed, and demanded a national referendum on the issue.

While reiterating support for the Palestinian people, the party said it would oppose any plan that runs counter to the wishes of the people of Gaza or Palestine as a whole.

Adding to the pressure, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, chief of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and leader of the opposition in the Senate, described the move as “morally incorrect and indefensible”.

The criticism came as Trump used the Davos platform to issue a warning to Palestinian militant group Hamas, saying it must disarm or face “elimination”.

Questions over ‘Board of Peace’

The initiative itself has drawn scrutiny over its scope and support.

Although the Trump administration invited more than 60 countries — including major powers such as India and China — fewer than 20 participated in the launch in Davos, according to officials.

Countries joining the board are reported to face a $1 billion fee for permanent membership.

Israel and Hamas agreed to Trump’s peace plan in October, according to reports.

Washington has presented the Board of Peace as a new international body to promote stability in Gaza and potentially address other global conflicts, fuelling speculation that it could operate alongside or in place of existing multilateral institutions.

Countries that have agreed to join the board include Argentina, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.