Pakistan PM Welcomes Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan; Faces Fierce Backlash from PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami
Islamabad, Sept 30: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ensuring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a statement posted on X, the Prime Minister said:
“I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza. I am convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel is essential for political stability and economic growth in the region. I firmly believe President Trump is prepared to assist in making this understanding a reality. I also laud his leadership and the vital role of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in striving to end this war. The implementation of the two-state solution remains crucial for lasting peace in the region.”
However, his remarks have triggered severe backlash from opposition parties in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) slammed the Prime Minister, invoking the words of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah:
“Quaid-e-Azam’s clear stance was that Israel is a bastard state, and every Pakistani stands by it. Shame on you, your masters, and those puppets whose hands drip with the blood of Palestinians. History will not forgive you.”
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also strongly rejected the Prime Minister’s statement, declaring:
“We categorically reject the Prime Minister’s remarks. The UN Charter is clear — every nation has the right to armed struggle if its land is occupied. To praise any so-called peace proposal built upon the bodies of 66,000 martyred Palestinians is to stand with the oppressors. Without the will and consent of the Pakistani nation, how can any individual dare to speak in the voice of Donald Trump?”
The controversy underscores Pakistan’s deep internal divisions over its stance on Israel and Palestine, as well as the challenges for the government in balancing international diplomacy with strong domestic sentiments.
