ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday rejected the government’s decision to join US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ initiative, saying such a move should only be made after consultations with all political stakeholders.
Initially proposed to oversee peace efforts in Gaza following Israel’s two-year war on the Palestinian territory, the Board of Peace’s charter envisages a broader mandate to address international conflicts.
On Thursday, leaders and senior officials from 19 countries, including Pakistan, joined President Trump at a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, where the founding charter of the body was formally endorsed.
In a statement, PTI said it did not accept the government’s decision to become part of the Board of Peace, stressing that decisions of international importance must be taken with transparency and national consensus.
The party said the government should have discussed the matter openly within existing parliamentary forums before proceeding. The statement, shared on X, added that Pakistan’s involvement in any global peace initiative should strengthen the United Nations’ multilateral framework rather than create parallel structures that could undermine global governance.
PTI said that under former prime minister Imran Khan, the party consistently maintained that Pakistan’s foreign policy must protect national sovereignty, uphold constitutional principles and reflect a broad-based national agreement.
Reiterating its support for Palestinians, the party said it would not accept any initiative that goes against the wishes of the Palestinian people. It expressed deep concern over the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and reaffirmed its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.
The party said this position had been clearly articulated by Imran Khan during his tenure as prime minister and reflected Pakistan’s commitment to human rights and international law.
PTI called on the government to withdraw any formal participation in the Board of Peace until a complete consultative process is carried out. The party proposed parliamentary debate and scrutiny, consultations with all major political leaders, including Imran Khan, and a referendum on membership to ensure public confidence.
The statement concluded that Pakistan must continue to act as a responsible and principled state, with international engagements rooted in legality, dignity, the UN Charter and national consensus.
Separately, PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar criticised the government’s move in a post on X, calling the haste in joining the board inappropriate and difficult to understand. He said it was the government’s duty to take parliament into confidence and share full details, which had not been done.
He reiterated the party’s clear stance that it would not support any agreement that violates Palestinian rights or is rejected by the Palestinian people.
Decision Based on National Interest, Ummah’s Collective Priorities: Minister
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the National Assembly that Pakistan’s decision to join the Board of Peace was guided by national interest and the collective priorities of the Ummah, not political motives.
Responding to a point of order raised by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, he said the decision was taken in the interest of the Palestinian people and reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding position on Palestine.
He said UN Security Council resolutions call for a permanent ceasefire and the reconstruction of Gaza, adding that Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace aimed to support these objectives while safeguarding Palestinian and national interests.
The minister urged lawmakers not to turn the issue into political point-scoring and called for unity and consensus in parliament.
He added that the situation in Gaza and ongoing atrocities against Palestinians had deeply shaken the Muslim world and sparked widespread protests globally, with people from different religions condemning Israeli actions. He said Pakistan had always raised its voice against oppression in Palestine and Indian-occupied Kashmir, warning that the unresolved Kashmir issue remained a nuclear flashpoint.
