‘If you don’t withdraw…’: Shia cleric warns of humiliation for PM Shehbaz Sharif over Gaza Peace Board participation

Cleric warns Pak government over Gaza participation

A prominent Shia cleric, Shaikh Karamat Hussain Najafi, has publicly urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) to withdraw from the recently established Gaza Peace Board, alleging it is shaped by external interests. His remarks come as political parties gear up for elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and across Pakistan.

Addressing a large gathering in Gilgit-Baltistan, Shaikh Najafi stressed he was not there to play politics but to convey a message he believes carries national weight. He said, “I will not use this gathering for politics, but I will say one thing: anyone who recites the creed of Ali-un-Wali-ullah, let my words reach every corner of the country, let the whole of Pakistan listen.”

He made it clear that his criticism was directed at the government and its allies, reiterating his demand with a firm warning: “Before the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and in Pakistan, if you do not withdraw from the Peace Board, which has been formed under the leadership of Jews and Zionism, then you will be humiliated and disgraced in every street of Pakistan, and especially across Gilgit-Baltistan.”

Turning to the public in the region, he asked pointedly, “Will you sacrifice your blood in obedience and support of your leader?” He also framed the issue as a pledge to his supporters, declaring, “Raising both hands in a renewal of the pledge with the martyr and the coming leader, this is our promise. The Muslim League (N) and all its supporting parties will be disgraced and humiliated. This is our final message.”

His intervention reflects the growing political sensitivity in the run-up to elections, with analysts noting that religious voices continue to wield considerable influence in regional politics — particularly in areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, where faith and electoral loyalties frequently intersect.

What is the Gaza Peace Board?

The Gaza Peace Board is a United States-led initiative aimed at stabilising the post-war region. Its primary objective is to support reconstruction, civilian governance, and humanitarian relief while preventing a power vacuum after conflict.

The body is envisioned as a temporary mechanism involving international stakeholders, regional actors and Palestinian technocrats. It would oversee aid distribution, infrastructure rebuilding and basic administrative functions. Officials have emphasised that it is not intended to replace Palestinian political aspirations but to create conditions for long-term stability, security and economic recovery during a fragile transition period.

Pakistan’s decision to participate has triggered sharp criticism at home. Opposition parties, religious groups and scholars have questioned both the political rationale and the process behind the move, arguing it exposes deep ideological divides within the country and places additional pressure on the Shehbaz Sharif administration.

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been among the most vocal critics, arguing that a decision with such geopolitical and moral implications cannot be taken without reflecting the views of Pakistan’s nearly 250 million people.