Voices within Pak urge govt to drop plan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Several Pakistani politicians and prominent public figures have asked the government to reconsider the decision to recommend US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize amid widespread condemnation of American strikes against Iran’s three nuclear sites on Sunday.
While some called for immediate withdrawal of the recommendation, some called it a “cause of unmitigated shame and embarrassment”.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee called the US and Israeli strikes “reckless actions” and warned that escalated tensions could “ignite a wider conflict” and diminish opportunities for dialogue and diplomacy.
The committee reaffirmed the country’s commitment to remain in close contact with relevant parties for regional peace in West Asia. Islamabad is also co-sponsoring a resolution with China and Russia at the United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member of the council.
Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, criticising the US’s action and offering solidarity with the Islamic republic. While noting Iran’s right to self-defence, Sharif called for dialogue as the “only viable path forward”, according to a statement from his office.
Asim Munir — the head of Pakistan’s army and widely considered the most powerful person in the country — held rare talks with Trump at the White House last week to discuss matters, including the situation in Iran. Pakistan followed up saying it will formally nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday for the US leader’s role.
“I should have gotten it four or five times. I would think the Abraham Accords would be a good one too. But they won’t give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals,” Trump told reporters while reacting to Pakistan’s announcement.
Prominent religious figure Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), demanded that the government rescind its decision. “President Trump’s claim of peace has proven to be false; the proposal for the Nobel Prize should be withdrawn,” Fazl told workers at a party meeting in Murree on Sunday.
A letter of recommendation, signed by deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, has already been sent to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Norway. However, the decision came under intense scrutiny after the US bombed Iran’s Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, joining the Israeli offensive against the country.
“With the blood of Afghans and Palestinians on America’s hands, how can he (Trump) claim to be a proponent of peace?” Rahman said, calling the US strikes on Iran a blatant violation of national and international laws.
Former Pakistani senator Mushahid Hussain urged the government to revoke its Nobel nomination. “Since Trump is no longer a potential peacemaker, but a leader who has wilfully unleashed an illegal war, the Pakistan government must now review, rescind and revoke his Nobel nomination,” he said.
Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan urged the government to “reconsider” the move, highlighting the “US attack on Iran and continuous US support of Israeli killings in Gaza”.
Former senator Afrasiab Khattak also termed the move embarrassing. He said, “The sycophancy adopted by the Pakistani ruling elite in nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is 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.
Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, termed the move “unfortunate”, and said it did not reflect the public’s views. Author and activist Fatima Bhutto asked: “Will Pakistan withdraw its nomination for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize?”
REFERENCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES
