Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif
Born	Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif 12/25/1949
Birthplace	Lahore, West Punjab, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	Three-time Prime Minister of Pakistan
Education	University of the Punjab
Children	4
Awards	Nishan-e-Pakistan

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (born 25 December 1949) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who has served as Prime Minister of Pakistan on three non-consecutive occasions — from 1990 to 1993, from 1997 to 1999, and from 2013 to 2017 — making him the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, with a combined tenure exceeding nine years. Each of his three terms ended in his removal from office: the first through a presidential dissolution of the National Assembly, the second through a military coup led by Pervez Musharraf, and the third through a Supreme Court disqualification stemming from the Panama Papers case. Born into a business family in Lahore, Sharif rose through provincial politics in Punjab during the era of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's military rule before ascending to the national stage. His political career has been defined by periods of governance, exile, legal battles, and repeated returns to political prominence. He is the president of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), one of the country's major political parties, and has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024. His daughter Maryam Nawaz has emerged as a significant political figure in her own right, currently serving as Chief Minister of Punjab.

Early Life

Nawaz Sharif was born on 25 December 1949 in Lahore, then part of West Punjab, Pakistan, into the Sharif family, which was of middle-class standing at the time of his birth. His father, Muhammad Sharif, was a businessman who founded the Ittefaq Group, a conglomerate that would grow into one of Pakistan's prominent industrial enterprises, encompassing steel manufacturing and other ventures. The Sharif family's business interests expanded significantly during the decades that followed, establishing them as one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the Punjab province.

Nawaz Sharif grew up in Lahore, the cultural and political heart of Punjab, in an environment shaped by both business and the social dynamics of Pakistan's largest province. The Sharif family's Kashmiri heritage and their roots in the commercial class of Lahore positioned them within the broader network of Punjabi industrialists who played an increasingly important role in Pakistan's economic and political landscape during the latter half of the twentieth century.

As the elder of the two Sharif brothers — his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif would also go on to a significant political career, including serving as Chief Minister of Punjab and later as Prime Minister of Pakistan — Nawaz was groomed in the family's industrial concerns before turning to politics. The family's business success, particularly in the steel industry through the Ittefaq Group, provided the financial foundation and social connections that would prove instrumental in Nawaz Sharif's entry into public life during the military regime of the 1980s.

Education

Nawaz Sharif received his higher education at two institutions in Lahore. He studied business at Government College University, one of the oldest and most prominent educational institutions in Pakistan. He subsequently pursued a law degree at the University of the Punjab, the largest and one of the most established universities in the country. His educational background in both commerce and law provided him with a foundation that he would draw upon in his later careers in both business and politics.

Career

Entry into Politics and Provincial Government (1981–1990)

Nawaz Sharif entered politics in 1981, during the military rule of President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, when he was appointed as the Provincial Minister for Finance of Punjab. This appointment marked the beginning of a political career that would span more than four decades. Sharif's elevation was facilitated by the military government's strategy of cultivating civilian political allies, and his family's industrial standing in Punjab made him a suitable candidate for a senior provincial role.

In 1985, Sharif was elected Chief Minister of Punjab, a position he held until August 1990. His tenure as chief minister consolidated his position as one of the most prominent political figures in Pakistan's most populous province. He was backed by a coalition of conservative political forces and maintained close ties with the military establishment during the Zia era. After the end of martial law and the restoration of civilian politics following Zia-ul-Haq's death in a plane crash in 1988, Sharif was re-elected as chief minister, demonstrating that his political appeal extended beyond the patronage networks of the military government.

During his years as chief minister, Sharif oversaw significant development projects in Punjab and cultivated a base of support among the province's business community, urban middle class, and conservative religious constituencies. His administration focused on industrialization and infrastructure development, themes that would become hallmarks of his political platform throughout his career.

First Term as Prime Minister (1990–1993)

Before the 1990 general election, Nawaz Sharif was appointed as the head of the Islami Jamhuri Ittihad (IJI), a conservative electoral alliance that had been founded by Lieutenant General Hamid Gul, the former director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Sharif became the 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan on 6 November 1990, with the support of General Mirza Aslam Beg, the Chief of Army Staff, and Asad Durrani, the ISI director-general at the time.

Sharif's first term as prime minister was characterized by an ambitious program of economic liberalization and privatization. He pursued policies aimed at deregulating the Pakistani economy, encouraging private enterprise, and reducing the role of the state in economic affairs. His government initiated the privatization of state-owned enterprises and introduced measures to promote foreign investment. He also oversaw the construction of the Lahore–Islamabad Motorway, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Pakistan's history at the time, which became a signature achievement associated with his name.

However, his first term was also marked by tensions with the presidency and the military. On 18 July 1993, Sharif's government was dismissed when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan exercised his constitutional authority to dissolve the National Assembly. Although the Supreme Court of Pakistan initially restored Sharif to office, the political crisis was eventually resolved through the intervention of the military, which brokered an arrangement under which both Sharif and Ghulam Ishaq Khan resigned from their respective positions.

Opposition and Return (1993–1999)

Following his removal from office, Sharif served as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly from October 1993 to November 1996, during the government of Benazir Bhutto, his principal political rival. The period of the early-to-mid 1990s in Pakistan was characterized by political instability, with the country's two major parties — Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) — alternating in power amid repeated interventions by the presidency and the military.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N), formally established as a distinct political entity in 1993 under Sharif's leadership, became the main vehicle for his political ambitions. Sharif led PML-N to a decisive victory in the February 1997 general elections, winning a supermajority in the National Assembly. He assumed office as Prime Minister for the second time on 17 February 1997.

Second Term as Prime Minister (1997–1999)

Sharif's second term was among the most consequential and tumultuous periods in Pakistan's political history. Armed with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, his government passed the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which stripped the president of the power to dissolve the National Assembly — the very mechanism that had been used to remove him from office in 1993.

One of the most significant events of his second term was Pakistan's nuclear weapons tests in May 1998. In response to India's nuclear tests conducted earlier that month under the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharif authorized Pakistan's own nuclear tests on 28 May 1998 at Chagai, making Pakistan the seventh declared nuclear weapons state in the world. The decision was made despite significant international pressure, including from the United States, urging Pakistan to exercise restraint. The tests resulted in economic sanctions against Pakistan but were met with widespread public approval domestically.

Sharif's second term also saw the Kargil conflict with India in 1999, which created severe tensions between Sharif and the military leadership, particularly the Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf. The crisis required the intervention of US President Bill Clinton to facilitate a Pakistani withdrawal from the Kargil heights.

On 12 October 1999, Sharif attempted to dismiss Musharraf and prevent his plane from landing in Pakistan, but the military responded with a coup d'état. Musharraf seized power, suspended the constitution, and placed Sharif under arrest. Sharif was subsequently charged with hijacking and terrorism — the latter relating to his attempt to divert Musharraf's aircraft — and faced the possibility of the death penalty.

Exile (2000–2007)

Following the military coup, Sharif was imprisoned and subjected to trial. The death penalty was ultimately not imposed, reportedly as a result of pressure from US President Bill Clinton and other international figures. A deal was brokered by King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, under which Sharif agreed to go into exile for a period of ten years. He and his family relocated to Saudi Arabia, where they remained for the better part of a decade.

During his years in exile, Sharif remained a significant figure in Pakistani politics, maintaining contact with PML-N leaders and issuing periodic statements on national affairs. His wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, assumed the presidency of PML-N and managed the party's affairs in Pakistan during his absence.

In 2007, Sharif violated the terms of the agreement with the military establishment and attempted to return to Pakistan but was deported upon arrival. This episode underscored both the continued restrictions on his political activities and the enduring relevance of his political standing.

Return to Politics and Third Term as Prime Minister (2011–2017)

After more than a decade, Sharif returned to active politics in Pakistan in 2011 and resumed the leadership of PML-N. He positioned his party as the primary opposition to the Pakistan People's Party government led by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.

In the May 2013 general elections, PML-N won a decisive majority in the National Assembly, and Sharif was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time on 5 June 2013. His third term focused heavily on infrastructure development, particularly in the energy sector, where Pakistan faced severe power shortages. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive program of Chinese-funded infrastructure and energy projects, was advanced significantly during this period. The Lahore Metro, additional motorway projects, and power generation initiatives were among the flagship undertakings of his government.

However, Sharif's third term was also overshadowed by allegations of corruption following the release of the Panama Papers in April 2016, which revealed offshore financial holdings linked to the Sharif family. The revelations prompted legal challenges and a Supreme Court investigation. On 28 July 2017, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Sharif from holding public office under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, which pertains to the requirement of honesty and truthfulness (Sadiq and Ameen) for members of parliament. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi succeeded him as prime minister for the remainder of the parliamentary term.

Legal Battles and Second Exile (2017–2023)

Following his disqualification, Sharif faced further legal proceedings. In 2018, the Pakistani Supreme Court issued a lifetime ban on him holding public office. An accountability court sentenced him to ten years in prison in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference and also convicted him in the Avenfield properties reference, which related to luxury apartments owned by the Sharif family in London.

In 2019, Sharif traveled to London for medical treatment after being granted bail on health grounds. Pakistani courts subsequently declared him an absconder for failing to return within the stipulated period. His prolonged stay in London effectively constituted a second period of exile, during which his brother Shehbaz Sharif managed PML-N's affairs in Pakistan and eventually served as Prime Minister from April 2022.

Return to Pakistan and Current Political Role (2023–present)

In October 2023, after four years in London, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan. The Islamabad High Court subsequently acquitted him in both the Avenfield and Al-Azizia Steel Mills cases, removing the legal obstacles to his participation in politics.

In the February 2024 general elections, Sharif won the NA-130 constituency in Lahore and has been a member of the National Assembly since 29 February 2024. He subsequently assumed the presidency of PML-N in May 2024. In his current role as party president, Sharif has continued to engage in political and diplomatic activities, including recent meetings with foreign delegations. In March 2026, he and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz met with Tashkent Region Governor Zoir Mirzaev to discuss strengthening Pakistan-Uzbekistan economic ties in areas including tourism, agriculture, and trade.

The Punjab government has also been reviewing plans for the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif IT City in Faisalabad, an initiative reflecting his continued influence on development policy in the province.

Personal Life

Nawaz Sharif married Kulsoom Nawaz (née Butt), who was herself a political figure. Kulsoom Nawaz served as president of PML-N during Sharif's exile and won a National Assembly by-election in 2017 from NA-120 Lahore while undergoing cancer treatment in London. She died in September 2018 in London after a prolonged battle with throat cancer. Kulsoom Nawaz had previously undergone medical treatment in Delhi, India.

The couple had four children, including their daughter Maryam Nawaz, who has become one of Pakistan's most prominent political figures, currently serving as Chief Minister of Punjab. Maryam Nawaz was also involved in the Panama Papers case and was convicted alongside her father before her conviction was later suspended. She had previously served as the chief of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme during Sharif's third term.

Sharif's younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, has served as Chief Minister of Punjab on multiple occasions and as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2022 to 2024 and again from March 2024. The Sharif family's collective political influence in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, has made them one of the most prominent political dynasties in the country's history.

Recognition

Nawaz Sharif's political career has resulted in a complex public legacy. As the only Pakistani prime minister to have been elected to the office three times, he holds a record in the country's political history. His authorization of Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998 is considered one of the defining moments of his career, and 28 May is commemorated in Pakistan as Youm-e-Takbeer (Day of Greatness) in recognition of the achievement.

His infrastructure development programs, particularly the motorway network linking Pakistan's major cities, are among the most visible legacies of his governance. The proposed Nawaz Sharif IT City in Faisalabad represents a continuation of the association between his name and large-scale development projects.

At the same time, his career has been marked by repeated removals from office, legal proceedings, periods of exile, and disqualification from public office. His relationship with the Pakistani military has oscillated between alliance and confrontation — he was elevated to prominence with military support under Zia-ul-Haq, but was overthrown by a military coup under Musharraf. His legal battles, particularly those stemming from the Panama Papers revelations, have been among the most prominent judicial proceedings in Pakistan's history.

Legacy

Nawaz Sharif's impact on Pakistani politics and governance is multifaceted. As a political figure who has been active at the highest levels of government for more than four decades, his career has intersected with virtually every major political development in Pakistan since the 1980s.

His economic policies, particularly during his first and third terms, emphasized privatization, infrastructure development, and economic liberalization. The motorway network, energy sector investments, and the advancement of CPEC during his tenures represent tangible outcomes of these policies. His governments also passed significant constitutional amendments, including the Thirteenth Amendment, which limited presidential power, and contributed to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment during the period of political consensus that followed Musharraf's departure.

The decision to conduct nuclear tests in 1998 remains one of the most consequential actions of his career, fundamentally altering Pakistan's strategic position in South Asia and the broader international community. The tests established Pakistan as a declared nuclear state and remain a point of national pride for many Pakistanis, while also resulting in international sanctions and diplomatic consequences.

The Sharif family's continued political dominance in Punjab, now extending to the next generation through Maryam Nawaz's role as Chief Minister, underscores the dynastic character of Pakistani politics that Sharif's career both exemplifies and has helped perpetuate. His political rivalry with Benazir Bhutto in the 1990s and with Imran Khan in the 2010s and 2020s has shaped the competitive dynamics of Pakistan's democratic system across multiple decades.