ISLAMABAD: Opposition political parties on Thursday sharply criticized the government’s decision to join the Gaza Board of Peace without consulting parliament, accusing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of engaging in peace talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called a murderer.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Rehman expressed disbelief over Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza peace forum initiated by US President Donald Trump, which he described as “lacking international legitimacy.”
He pointed out that several countries, including France and other European nations, had refused to join.
“Countries like France have refused to join the Peace Board, yet our Prime Minister [Shahbaz Sharif] is sitting with Netanyahu to discuss peace. How can we trust a process that involves such individuals,” he questioned.
Rehman also criticised the historical roots of the Middle East conflict, specifically the formation of Israel under British patronage, which he argued had been a key driver of violence.
He referred to the loss of 70,000 lives and condemned Netanyahu’s involvement in the peace initiative.
“Perpetrators of this tragedy are now presenting themselves as peace brokers,” he lamented, urging Pakistan to reject the Peace Board led by Netanyahu and Trump.
Rehman also turned his attention to the government’s foreign policy and the broader global political landscape.
He accused the US and its allies of consolidating power through wealth and military might, undermining democracy both domestically and internationally.
“What we are witnessing today is not democracy, but the consolidation of power,” he stated.
The JUI-F leader also criticised the government’s domestic governance, lamenting its failure to consult the public on critical national issues, such as the ongoing conflicts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He questioned the legitimacy of the federal cabinet’s decisions, stating that the people had not been adequately informed or consulted on these matters.
On constitutional reforms, Rehman expressed concern over amendments that, he claimed, had consolidated power and weakened the democratic process.
He decried the passage of “non-Islamic” laws under the guise of democratic rights, arguing that such changes had weakened the people’s role in governance.
He also voiced frustration over the lack of progress on key issues, such as the abolition of interest-based financial systems, a recommendation from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) that remains unimplemented.
Finally, Rehman raised concerns over the growing influence of armed groups in regions like Tank, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan, where he claimed that industrialists and government officials are paying extortion money to militants in exchange for protection.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) severely criticised Prime Minister Sharif for unilaterally endorsing the Gaza Board of Peace for Palestine without consulting parliament, accusing the government of disregarding the legislature. He argued that such a significant decision should have been presented to the parliament, demanding clarification on the terms under which Pakistan had joined the initiative.
Another PTI leader Asad Qaiser further stated that the party has officially disassociates itself from the decision.
In contrast, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the move, asserting that decisions must be made in the interest of the Muslim Ummah and national welfare.
He explained that Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza Board of Peace was aimed at Gaza’s reconstruction and a permanent ceasefire, emphasising the need for consensus moving forward.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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