Shehbaz Sharif Faces Backlash As Pakistan Backs Trump's Gaza 'Board Of Peace', PTI Questions Intent

Last Updated:January 23, 2026, 14:02 IST

PTI leaders have demanded a referendum and full scrutiny, framing the decision as a sign of public distrust towards the Shehbaz Sharif government and the civil-military nexus.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (Image: Andrew Harnik/GETTY IMAGES/AFP)

Pakistan’s decision to join US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza “Board of Peace" has triggered sharp domestic backlash, exposing deep political, religious and ideological fault lines within the country. Opposition parties, Islamist groups and religious scholars are questioning both the intent and the process behind the move, complicating the Shehbaz Sharif government’s effort to manage the national narrative.

Sources have told CNN-News18 that according to opposition leaders, the decision was taken in a non-transparent and unilateral manner, without parliamentary debate, public consultation or wider stakeholder engagement. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as one of the most vocal critics, arguing that a move of such geopolitical and moral consequence cannot ignore the will of Pakistan’s nearly 250 million people. PTI leaders have demanded a referendum and full scrutiny, framing the decision as a sign of public distrust towards the Shehbaz Sharif government and the civil-military nexus.

PTI has also insisted that no plan concerning Gaza should contradict Palestinian wishes. Party leaders have rejected any framework that sidelines Palestinian agency, warning that Pakistan risks diluting its long-standing principled stance by aligning with a US-centric initiative led by President Trump.

The government, however, is projecting participation in the Trump-led board as a humanitarian and diplomatic effort focused on securing a permanent ceasefire, facilitating aid delivery and contributing to Gaza’s reconstruction. Official sources argue that engagement allows Pakistan to advocate for Palestinian relief from within the process rather than remaining on the sidelines.

That explanation has failed to placate religious groups at home. Hardline clerics and Islamist organisations view the move as a betrayal of Pakistan’s ideological foundations, which have historically emphasised Islamic solidarity and unwavering support for Palestinian rights. Critics argue that joining a Trump-led platform effectively legitimises a framework perceived to be closely aligned with pro-Israel interests and dismissive of Palestinian political aspirations.

Opposition voices from across the religious and political spectrum have reinforced these concerns. Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and former information minister Shireen Mazari have publicly questioned the wisdom of the decision, calling it morally incorrect and strategically unwise. Islamist groups and religious scholars have accused the government of legitimising a peace architecture that sidelines Palestinians.

Sources warn that religious parties possess significant street power and the ability to mobilise thousands, particularly amid existing economic and political frustration. After Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Fazal-ur-Rehman voiced opposition, PTI’s sustained criticism has further intensified pressure on the government.

As dissent deepens, Pakistan’s Gaza diplomacy now faces not only international scrutiny but an increasingly volatile domestic reckoning — testing the government’s ability to balance ideology, diplomacy and public legitimacy.

News world Shehbaz Sharif Faces Backlash As Pakistan Backs Trump's Gaza 'Board Of Peace', PTI Questions Intent

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