Norwegian Party Faces Backlash Over Imran Khan’s Nobel Peace Prize Nomination

A Norwegian political party, Partiet Sentrum, has drawn criticism after announcing its nomination of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the Nobel Peace Prize. The party cited Khan’s advocacy for human rights and democracy in Pakistan as the basis for the nomination.

In a post on social media platform X, Partiet Sentrum stated, “We are pleased to announce that, in collaboration with an eligible nominator, we have nominated Mr. Imran Khan for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts for human rights and democracy in Pakistan.” However, the party did not disclose the identity of the intermediary involved in the nomination process.

The move has sparked controversy in Norway, with critics accusing the party of leveraging the nomination to gain political support. According to Norwegian news outlet NRK, Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Nobel Institute, suggested that Partiet Sentrum’s leader, Geir Lippestad, may be seeking to attract votes from the Norwegian-Pakistani community ahead of elections.

As of now, the Nobel Prize Committee in Oslo has not officially commented on the nomination.

This is not the first time Imran Khan has been nominated for the prestigious award. In 2019, he was also considered for his role in promoting peace in South Asia.

Each year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee evaluates hundreds of nominations before selecting a winner through an extensive eight-month review process. The nomination period for the 2025 Peace Prize closed on January 31, with 338 candidates—244 individuals and 94 organizations—being considered. The committee maintains strict confidentiality, refraining from revealing the identities of nominees or nominators.

Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote, has consistently denied all charges against him, alleging they are politically motivated. The Pakistani government denies these claims.

The controversy surrounding the nomination highlights the intersection of global politics and prestigious awards, raising questions about the motivations behind such endorsements.