Pakistan’s recommendation, endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, was submitted to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Norway last week. The government cited Trump’s role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan as justification for the nomination.
Political opposition rises Pakistani daily Dawn reported that veteran politician and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the move, stating, “President Trump’s claim of peace has proven to be false; the proposal for the Nobel Prize should be withdrawn.”
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Speaking at a party meeting in Murree, Fazlur criticised the government’s decision, calling out Pak Army Chief Asim Munir’s lunch with Trump at the White House. “Trump has supported the Israeli attacks on Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iran. How can this be a sign of peace?” he said.
Former senator Mushahid Hussain took to X (formerly Twitter), asserting that Trump had “willfully unleashed an illegal war”. He urged the authorities to review, rescind and revoke” Trump’s Nobel nomination. He added that the US President had fallen under the influence of Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu and was “presiding over the decline of America.”
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan wrote “reconsider” on X, highlighting the “US attack on Iran and continuous US support of Israeli killings in Gaza”.PTI’s think-tank head Raoof Hasan labelled the nomination as a cause of unmitigated shame and embarrassment for those who were instrumental in making the choice. “That’s why it is said that legitimacy can neither be bought nor gifted,” he said.
Former senator Afrasiab Khattak said that the nomination reflected “sycophancy” and was “not part of normative conduct in international diplomacy.” “It was most embarrassing to announce the nomination hours before Trump ordered to bomb Iranian nuclear sites,” he said.
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Other significant concerns raised
Other notable voices pointed out the government’s mistake and called for reconsideration on the matter.
Jamaat-i-Islami chief Naeemur Rehman claimed the move “undermines our national dignity and grace,” while former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Maleeha Lodhi, described the decision as “unfortunate” and unrepresentative of public sentiment.
Senior journalist Mariana Baabar said on X that “today Pakistan does not look too good either,” sharing the government’s original post, as per Press Trust of India (PTI) report citing Dawn.
“Will Pakistan withdraw its nomination for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize?” questioned author and activist Fatima Bhutto.
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