It is only through your vote that you can bring change for prosperity, to strengthen the country's borders,

end terrorism,
improve education, and get land reforms and put Sindh and Pakistan on a path to progress. — Nawaz Sharif

Mian Muhammad Nawaz

Sharif

Prime Minister
 Personal History
• Sharif was born in Lahore on 25 December 1949 in a Kashmiri business family. In 1947, Sharif's parents
migrated from Amritsar to Lahore
• Sharif went to Saint Anthony High School. He graduated from the Government College University (GCU) with
an art and business degree and then received a law degree from the Law College of Punjab University in
Lahore
• Sharif married Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif
• His brother Shehbaz Sharif served as Chief Minister of Punjab province four times and currently is leader of
opposition in National Assembly of Pakistan
• His daughter Maryam Nawaz, also actively participates in politics. Maryam is married to Muhammad Safdar
Awan. His other daughter, Asma Nawaz, is married to Ali Dar, son of Ishaq Dar, former finance minister of
Pakistan
• His family owned Ittefaq Group, a multimillion dollar steel conglomerate, and Sharif Group, a conglomerate
with holdings in agriculture, transport and sugar mills
• The personal residence of the Sharif family, Raiwind Palace, is located in Jati Umra, Raiwind, on the outskirts
of Lahore. He also has a residences in Jeddah and London
• Sharif has a long medical history that has raised questions of his suitability for being Prime Minister by many
opposition leaders and the legal fraternity, including former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
 Early political career
• Sharif family suffered financial losses when their steel business was nationalized by ZAB
• Sharif entered politics as a result, initially focused on regaining control of the steel plants. In 1976, Sharif
joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), a conservative front rooted in the Punjab province
• In May 1980, Ghulam Jilani Khan, the military governor of the Punjab Province and promoted Sharif,
making him finance minister. In 1981, Sharif joined the Punjab Advisory Council under Khan
• During the 1980s, Sharif gained influence as a supporter of Zia-ul-Haq's military government. Zia-ul-Haq
agreed to return the steel industry to Sharif under denationalization/deregulate industries to improve
the economy
• Within Punjab, Sharif privatised government-owned industries and presented development-oriented
budgets. These policies raised financial capital and helped increase the standard of living and purchasing
power in the province thus Punjab prospered leading to economical inequality with other provinces
• In 1985, Sharif become Chief Minister of the Punjab, against the wishes of Prime Minister Muhammad
Khan Junejo. With the backing of the army, Sharif secured a landslide victory in the 1985 elections. He
maintained an close alliance with important Generals
• As Chief Minister, he stressed on welfare, development and the maintenance of law and order. Sharif
expanded economic infrastructure to benefit the army, his own business interests, and the people of
Punjab.
 1988 elections
• After General Zia's death in August 1988, Zia's political party–Pakistan Muslim League (Pagara
Group)–split into two factions. Sharif led the Zia-loyalist Fida Group against the former PM Junejo
Group. The Fida Group later took on the mantle of the PML both got funding from the ISI to form
the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI). (The IJI received Rs 15 million. The alliance was led by Sharif and
Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and opposed Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the elections.
The IJI gained substantial majorities in the Punjab and Sharif was re-elected chief minister
• In December 1989, Sharif decided to remain in the provincial Punjab Assembly rather than hold a
seat in the National Assembly. In early 1989, the PPP government attempted to unseat Sharif
through a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly, which they lost by a vote of 152 to 106
• The conservatives first came to power in under Sharif's leadership. Nawaz Sharif became the 12th
Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1 November 1990, succeeding Bhutto. Sharif had a majority in the
assembly and ruled with considerable confidence, having disputes with three successive army chiefs
• Sharif had campaigned on a conservative platform and vowed to reduce government corruption.
Sharif introduced an economy based on privatisation and economic liberalisation to reverse the
nationalisation of ZAB notably for banks and industries. He legalised foreign money exchange to be
transacted through private money exchangers. His privatisation policies were continued by both
Benazir Bhutto in the mid-1990s and Shaukat Aziz in the 2000s. He also improved the nation's
infrastructure and the growth of digital telecommunication.
 Nawaz and Conservative Policies
• Sharif continued the simultaneous Islamization and conservatism of Pakistan
society of Zia. Reforms were made to introduce fiscal conservatism, supply-side
economics, bio-conservatism and religious conservatism in Pakistan
• Sharif intensified Zia's controversial Islamization policies, and introduced Islamic
Laws such as the Shariat Ordinance and Bait-ul-Maal to drive the country on the
model of an Islamic welfare state. He tasked the Ministry of Religion to prepare
reports and recommendations for steps taken toward Islamization
• Sharif extended membership of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to all
Central Asian Muslim countries, to unite them into a Muslim Bloc
• NS included environmentalism in his government platform, and established the
Environmental Protection Agency in 1997.
 Political Conflict
• Following the imposition and passing of Resolution 660, 661, and 665, Sharif sided with the
United Nations on the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Sharif's criticised Iraq for invading Kuwait. This
continued as Pakistan sought to strengthen its relations with Iran. This policy continued under
Benazir Bhutto and Pervez Musharraf until the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003
• Sharif raised the issue of Kashmir in international forums and worked toward a peaceful
transfer of power in Afghanistan to curb the rampant trading of illicit drugs and weapons
across the border
• Sharif challenged former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg over the 1991 Gulf War.
• Sharif faced difficulty working with the PPP and the MQM in Karachi. The MQM and PPP
opposed Sharif due to his neglect of Sindh and conservatism
• To end the fighting between PML-N and MQM, Sharif's party passed a resolution to launch a
paramilitary operation under command of Chief of Army Staff General Asif Navaz. Violence
erupted in Karachi in 1992 and brought the economy to a halt
• During this time, Benazir Bhutto and the centre-left PPP remained neutral but her brother
Murtaza Bhutto exerted pressure which suspended the operation. The period of 1992–1994 is
considered the bloodiest in the history of the city, with many people missing
 Privatization Policies
• Sharif announced his economic policy under the National Economic Reconstruction Program (NERP). This
programme introduced Western-styled capitalist economics. Unemployment had limited Pakistan's
economic growth and Sharif believed that only privatisation could solve this problem
• Sharif promoted privatisation and economic liberalisation, notably for banks and industries. By 1993, around
115 nationalised industries were opened to private ownership, including the National Development Finance
Corporation, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation, and Pakistan State Oil. This boosted
the economy but a lack of competition in bidding allowed the rise of business oligarchs and further widened
the wealth gap, contributing to political instability
• Privatization program reached the GDP growth rate to 7.57% (1992) but dropped at 4.37% (1993; 1998)
• Sharif initiated several large-scale projects to stimulate the economy, such as the Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower
Project. However, unemployment remained a challenge. In an attempt to counter this, Sharif imported
thousands of privatised Yellow-cab taxis for young Pakistanis, but few of the loans were repaid. Sharif's
projects were not evenly distributed, focusing on Punjab and Kashmir Provinces, and no benefits from
industrialization in Sindh Province
• After criticism from the PPP and MQM, Sharif completed the Orangi Cottage Industrial Zone but this did not
repair his reputation in Sindh. Opponents accused Sharif of using political influence to build factories for
himself and his business, for expanding the Armed Forces' secretive industrial conglomerate and bribing
generals
 Science and Nuclear Policies
• Sharif authorised the establishment of the Jinnah Antarctic Station in 1991 under the scientific directions of
National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), with the Pakistan Navy's Weapons Engineering Division, and first
established the Jinnah Antarctic Station and Polar Research Cell. In 1992, Pakistan became an associate
member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
• On 28 July 1997, Sharif declared 1997 a year of science in Pakistan, and personally allotted funds for the
22nd INSC College on Theoretical Physics. In 1999, Sharif signed the executive decree, declaring 28 May as
the National Science Day in Pakistan
• Sharif made the nuclear weapons and energy program one of his top priorities. He expanded the nuclear
energy program, and continued an atomic program while following a policy of eliberate nuclear ambiguity
• This resulted in United States embargo on Pakistan in December 1990. The US reportedly offered substantial
economic aid to halt the country's uranium enrichment program. Sharif had announced that Pakistan had
no atomic bomb, and would sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty if India did as well. The embargo
blocked plans for a French-built nuclear power plant, so Sharif's advisors intensively lobbied the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which allowed China to establish CHASNUPP-I nuclear power
plant and upgrade KANUPP-I
• Sharif's nuclear policy was considered less aggressive towards India with its focus on public usage through
nuclear power and medicine
• In 1993, Sharif established the Institute of Nuclear Engineering (INE) to promote his policy for the peaceful
use of nuclear energy.
 Constitutional Crisis 1993
• Sharif had developed serious issues of authority with President Ishaq Khan, who was his supporter in Zia’s regime.
On 18 April, ahead of the 1993 Parliamentary election, Khan used his powers under 58-2b to dissolve the National
Assembly, and Mir Balakh Sher as interim prime minister
• NS refused to accept this act and challenge it at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. On 26 May, the Supreme Court
ruled 10–1 that the presidential order was unconstitutional, that the president could dissolve the assembly only if
a constitutional breakdown had occurred and that the government's incompetence or corruption was irrelevant
• Issues of authority continued and July 1993, under pressure from the armed forces, Sharif resigned under an
agreement that also removed President Khan from power. Under the close scrutiny of the Pakistan Armed Forces,
an interim and transitional government was formed and new parliamentary election was held after three months
• Following 1993 elections, the PPP returned to power under Benazir Bhutto. Sharif offered his full co-operation as
Leader of the Opposition but soon the PPP and PML-N held parliament locked in dispute. Bhutto found it difficult
to act effectively in the face of opposition from Sharif, and also from her younger brother Murtaza Bhutto
• Sharif and Murtaza Bhutto formed the Nawaz-Bhutto axis and worked to undermine Benazir Bhutto's government,
tapping an anti-corruption wave in Pakistan. They accused the government of corruption with major state
corporations and slowing economic progress
• In 1994 and 1995 they made a "train march" from Karachi to Peshawar, making critical speeches to huge crowds.
Sharif organised strikes throughout Pakistan in September and October 1994. The death of Murtaza Bhutto in
1996, led to demonstrations in Sindh and the government lost control. Benazir Bhutto became widely unpopular
across the country and was ousted in October 1996
 NS-Second Term PM
• By 1996, large-scale corruption by the government of Benazir Bhutto had deteriorated the
country's economy. In 1997 elections, NS PML-N won an overwhelming victory, with an
exclusive mandate from across Pakistan. It was hoped that Sharif would deliver on promises
and improve overall conditions. Sharif was sworn as prime minister on 17 February.
• Sharif had formed an alliance with Altaf Hussain of the MQM which fell apart following the
assassination of Hakim Said. Sharif then removed the MQM from parliament and took control
of Karachi while MQM was forced underground. This led Sharif to claim an exclusive mandate,
and for the first time Sharif and the PML-N had the control of Sindh, Balochistan, Northwest
Frontier, Kashmir and Punjab
• With a clear majority, Sharif's government amended the constitution to restrict the powers of
the president. With the passing of the 14th amendment, Sharif emerged as the most-powerful
elected prime minister in the country
• Sharif's popularity peaked in May 1998 after conducting the first nuclear weapons tests. When
Western countries suspended foreign aid, Sharif froze the country's foreign currency reserves
and economic conditions worsened
• The country embroiled in conflicts on two borders and Sharif's long-standing relationships with
the military establishment fell apart, so that by mid-1999 few approved of his policies.
 Atomic explosion & NS
• In May 1998, soon after Indian nuclear tests, Sharif vowed that his country would make a suitable reply. On 14 May, Leader
of the Opposition Benazir Bhutto and MQM called for nuclear tests, followed by calls from the public. When India tested its
nuclear weapons the second time, it caused a great alarm in Pakistan and pressure mounted on Sharif
• On 15 May, Sharif put the armed forces on high-alert and called a National Security Council meeting, discussing the financial,
diplomatic, military, strategic and national security concerns. Only Finance Minister Sartaj Aziz opposed the tests, due to the
economic recession, low foreign exchange reserves, and economic sanctions
• Sharif was initially hesitant of the economic impact of nuclear testing, and observed the international reaction to India's
tests. Failure to conduct the tests would put the credibility of Pakistan's nuclear deterrence in doubt, which was emphasized
when Indian Home Minister Lal Kishanchand Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes gloated and belittled Pakistan
• On 18 May, Sharif ordered the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to make preparation for the tests, and put
military forces on high-alert to provide support. On 27 May, the day before testing, the ISI detected Israeli F-16 fighters
conducting exercises and received intelligence that they had orders to attack Pakistan's nuclear facilities on behalf of India.
Sharif scrambled the Pakistan Air Force and had nuclear bombs prepared for deployment
• On 28 and 30 May 1998, Pakistan successfully carried out its nuclear tests, codenamed Chagai-I and Chagai-II. Following
these test, Sharif appeared on national television and stated: “If [Pakistan] had wanted, she would have conducted nuclear
tests 15–20 years ago [...] but the abject poverty of the people of the region dissuaded from doing so. But the World,
instead of putting pressure on India not to take the destructive road, imposed all kinds of sanctions on Pakistan for no fault
— Nawaz Sharif, 30 May 1998, televised on PTV
• Sharif's political prestige reached its peak when the country went nuclear. Despite the intense international criticism and
decline in foreign investment and trade, Sharif's domestic popularity increased, as the tests made Pakistan the first Muslim
country and seventh nation to become a nuclear power. In India, opposition leaders in parliament blamed the government
for starting a nuclear arms race
 Foreign Policy of NS
• NS improved Pakistan's relations with the Muslim world, Turkey, and Europe
• In February 1997, Sharif met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng to discuss economic co-operation.
Two conferences were organised in Beijing and Hong Kong to promote Chinese investment in Pakistan
• In 1997, Sharif signed a trilateral free trade agreement with Malaysia and Singapore, which was followed by collaboration
in defence. One of the core issues was Malaysia's agreement on sharing its space technology with Pakistan. Both Malaysia
and Singapore assured their support for Pakistan to join Asia–Europe Meeting, though Pakistan and India were not party to
the treaty until 2008
• In January 1998, Sharif signed bilateral economic agreements with South Korean President Kim Young-sam. Sharif urged
North Korea to make peace and improve its ties with South Korea; causing a division in Pakistan–North Korean relations
• In April 1998, Sharif visited Italy, Germany, Poland, and Belgium to promote economic ties and signed agreements to
enlarge economic co-operation. There was agreement with the EU for the protection of intellectual, industrial and
commercial property rights. However, these diplomatic efforts seemed to have gone to waste after conducting nuclear
tests in May 1998. Widespread international criticism brought Pakistan's reputation to a low. Pakistan failed to gather any
support from its allies at the UN
• In 1998, India and Pakistan signed agreement recognising the principle of building an environment of peace and security
and resolving all bilateral conflicts. On 19 February 1999, Indian Premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a historic state visit to
Pakistan, travelling on the inaugural Delhi–Lahore Bus connecting the Indian capital with Pakistan's major cultural city of
Lahore
• On 21 February, the PMs signed a bilateral agreement with a memorandum of understanding to ensure nuclear-free safety
in South Asia, which became known as the Lahore Declaration. The agreement was widely popular in both countries,
where it was felt that development of nuclear weapons brought added responsibility and promoted the importance of
confidence-building measures to avoid accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons
 Economic Achievements Projects
• Sharif built Pakistan's first motorway, the M2 Motorway. This public-private project was completed
in November 1997 at a cost of US$ 990 million. His critics questioned the layout of the highway, its
excessive length, its distance from important cities, and the absence of link roads with important
towns. There was particular dissatisfaction in Sindh and Balochistan Provinces, and Sharif faced a
lack of capital investment to finance additional projects
• NS loosened foreign exchange restrictions and opened Karachi Stock Exchange to foreign capital, but
the government remained short of funds for investments
• Due to economic pressures, Sharif halted the national space program this delayed the launch of its
satellite, Badr-II(B), which was completed in 1997. This caused frustration among the scientific
community who criticised Sharif's inability to promote science
• By the end of the Sharif's second term, the economy was in turmoil. The government faced serious
structural issues and financial problems; inflation and foreign debt stood at an all-time high, and
unemployment in Pakistan had reached its highest point.
• Pakistan had debts of US$32bn against reserves of little more than $1bn. The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) had suspended aid, demanding the country's finances be resolved
• Sharif continued to meddle with the stock exchange markets with devastating effects. By the time
he was deposed, the country was heading for financial default.
 Constitutional Crisis
• In August 1998, Sharif proposed a legal system based on Islamic principles. The the National Assembly approved
and passed the bill on 10 October 1998 by a vote of 151 to 16. Sharif reverted the semi-presidential system in
favour of a more parliamentary system. However, these amendments failed to achieve a two-thirds majority in the
senate, which remained under control of the PPP. Weeks later, parliament was suspended by a military coup and
Legal Framework Order, 2002 (2002 LFO) returned the country to a semi-presidential system for another decade
• Sharif's Fourteenth Amendment consolidated his power by preventing legislators and lawmakers from dissenting
or voting against their own parties, and prohibited judicial appeal for offenders. Legislators from different parties
challenged this with the Supreme Court. NS openly criticized Chief Justice Sajad Alishah, inviting a notice of
contempt. At the urging of the military and president, Sharif agreed the solve the conflict amicably but remained
determined to oust Alishah
• Sharif manipulated the ranks of senior judges, deposing two judges close to Alishah. The deposed judges
challenged Sharif's orders on procedural grounds by filing a petition at Quetta High Court on 26 November 1997.
Alishah was restrained by his fellow judges from adjudicating in the case against the PM
• On 28 November, Sharif appeared in the Supreme Court and justified his actions, citing evidence against the two
deposed judges. Alishah suspended the decision of Quetta High Court. Peshawar High Court issued similar orders
removing Alishah's closest judges
• On 30 November, Sharif's cabinet ministers and a large number of supporters entered the Supreme Court
building, disrupting the proceedings. The CJ requested the MP and subsequently struck down the 13 th
Amendment. Sharif forced President Leghari to resign, and appointed Wasim Sajjad as acting president, then
ousted Alishah to end the constitutional crisis. He later apologized to CJ
 Relations with Military
• The Government passed controversial Anti-Terrorist Act on 17 August 1997, establishing Anti-Terrorism
Courts. The Supreme Court with some amendments allowed these courts
• From 1981 until 1999, Sharif enjoyed extremely cordial relations with the Pakistan Armed Forces. When
Chief of Army Staff General Jehangir Karamat advocated for a National Security Council, Sharif
interpreted this as a conspiracy to return the military to an active political role
• In October 1998, three months before the end of his term, Karamat was forced to resign. Military lawyers
and civilian law experts saw this as unconstitutional and a violation of military justice code
• Sharif promoted General Pervez Musharraf to replace Karamat, also making Musharraf Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs despite his lack of seniority. Admiral Fasih Bokhari resigned as Chief of Naval Staff in protest.
Bokhari lodged a protest against the Kargil debacle and called for the court-martial of Musharraf, who
Sharif said acted alone.
• In August, India shot down a Pakistan Navy reconnaissance aircraft in the Atlantique Incident, killing 16
naval officers. Sharif failed to gain foreign support against India for the incident, which newly appointed
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza viewed as a lack of support for the navy in wartime.
Relations with the Air Force likewise deteriorated, when Chief of Air Staff General Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi
accused the Prime minister of not consulting the air force in matters critical to national security.
• Two months later, after steadily worsening relations with the Armed Forces, Sharif was deposed by
Musharraf and martial law was established throughout the country.
 Hijacking-Coup-Trial-Exile
• The conflicts in the Kargil war with India and Afghanistan's civil war, the economic turmoil, turned public opinion
against Sharif and his policies
• On 12 October 1999, Sharif attempted to remove Musharraf for military failures and replace him with General
Ziauddin Butt. Musharraf, who was in Sri Lanka, attempted to return on a PIA commercial flight. Sharif ordered the
Sindh Police to arrest Musharraf. The Flight was ordered to land at Nawabshah Airport. Army took over the
country and ousted NS. Sharif was taken to Adiala Jail. Musharraf later assumed control of the government as
chief executive
• Many of NS supporters were divided during the court proceedings and remained neutral. Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain remained quiet and later formed Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q). The military police initiated
massive arrests of PML workers and party leaders, who were held in Sindh and Punjab police prisons
• Sharif tried for "kidnapping, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism and corruption". The military court
convicted Sharif and gave him a life sentence. The military court proceedings were accused of being a show trial
• Sharif was also tried for tax evasion on the purchase of a helicopter worth US$1 million. He was ordered to pay a
fine of US$400,000 on grounds of tax evasion, and he was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment
• Amid pressure by Fahd and Bill Clinton, NS avoided a death sentence. Under an agreement, Sharif was placed in
exile for the next 10 years, and agreed not to take part in politics in Pakistan for 21 years. He also forfeited
property worth US$8.3 million and paid a fine of US$500,000.
• Sharif travelled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he was taken to a residence managed and controlled by the Saudi
government, and provided a Saudi loan to establish a steel mill.
 Election 2008
• Sharif called for the boycott of the January 2008 elections because he believed the poll would not be fair, given a
state of emergency imposed by Musharraf. Sharif and the PML-N decided to participate in the parliamentary
elections after 33 opposition groups, including Bhutto's PPP, met in Lahore but failed to reach a joint position. He
campaigned for the restoration of the independent judges removed by emergency government decree and
Musharraf's departure
• Bhutto's assassination led to the postponement of the elections to 18 February 2008. Sharif condemned Bhutto's
assassination and called it the "gloomiest day in Pakistan's history". As the elections approached, the country faced
a rise in attacks by militants. Sharif accused Musharraf of ordering anti-terror operations that had left the country
"drowned in blood". Pakistan's government urged opposition leaders to refrain from holding rallies ahead of the
elections, citing an escalating terrorist threat. The PML-N rejected this, accusing officials of campaign interference
• On 25 January, Musharraf attempted British mediation to reconcile with the Sharif brothers but failed. The elections
were dominated by the PPP, boosted by the death of Bhutto, and PML-N. In the 342-seat national assembly, PPP
received 86 seats; the PML-N, 66; and the PML-Q, which backed Musharraf, 40
• Sharif's party had joined a coalition with the PPP, led by its new leader Asif Ali Zardari, but the alliance was strained
by differences. Sharif won much public support for his uncompromising stand, and the coalition successfully forced
Musharraf's resignation from the presidency. After the coalition's collapse, Sharif pressured Zardari to reinstate the
judges Musharraf removed during emergency rule. This led to the courts absolving Sharif's criminal record so that
he could re-enter parliament
• In the June 2008 by-elections, Sharif's party won 91 national assembly seats and 180 provincial assembly seats in
the Punjab. Election for the Lahore seat was postponed due to questions of Sharif's eligibility to contest
 Gen Musharaf impeachment & movements
• The coalition government agreed on 7 August 2008 to impeach Musharraf. Zardari and Sharif sent a formal request for
him to step down. A charge-sheet had been drafted, and was to be presented to parliament. It included Musharraf's
first seizure of power in 1999 and his second in November 2007. The charge-sheet also listed some of Musharraf's
contributions to the "war on terror". The National Assembly was summoned four days later to discuss impeachment
proceeding. Sharif claimed that Musharraf was responsible for the crisis in the nation. "Musharraf pushed the
country's economy 20 years back after imposing martial law in the country and ousting the democratic government".
• On 18 August, Musharraf resigned as President of Pakistan due to mounting political pressure. On 19 August,
Musharraf defended his nine-year rule in an hour-long speech.
• Musharraf had dismissed 60 judges and CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry under the state of emergency in March 2007, in a failed
bid to remain in power. Sharif had championed the cause of the judges in his campaigns. However, the new coalition
government had failed to restore the judges, leading to its collapse in late 2008. Zardari feared that Chaudhry would
undo all edicts instated by Musharraf including an amnesty that Zardari had received from corruption charges.
• On 25 February 2009, the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shehbaz Sharif, from holding public
office. Zardari then dismissed the provincial legislature and declared presidential rule in the Punjab. Lawyers and
citizen's groups, civil activists, and a coalition of political parties planned protest march. Sharif, with a large contingent
of SUVs, began leading a march to Islamabad but ended the march in Gujranwala
• In a speech on 16 March, PM Yusuf Raza Gilani promised to reinstate Chaudhry after receiving pressure from Pakistan's
army, American and British envoys, and internal protests. PPP made a secret agreement to restore the PML
government in the Punjab. Sharif then called off the "long march"
• The PPP-led government continued to survive
 Elections 2013 Rift with IK
• The 18th Amendment passed in Parliament on 8 April 2010, removing the bar which allowed prime ministers to serve a maximum
of two terms in office. This made Sharif eligible to again become prime minister
• Between 2011 and 2013, Sharif and Imran Khan began to engage each other in a bitter feud. The rivalry between the two leaders
grew in late 2011 when Khan addressed a large crowd at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore
• From 26 April 2013, in the run up to the 2013 elections, both the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vehemently
criticised each other. Khan was accused of personally attacking Sharif and was given notice by the Election Commission of Pakistan,
though Khan denied it.
• Sharif campaigned on a promise to end loadshedding, construct motorways and Peshawar–Karachi high-speed rail. He also
promised to construct a third port in Keti Bandar on the southern coast of Thatta District. Just prior to the election, Sharif
confirmed he had a long telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, suggesting a desire to improve
diplomatic relations
• The EC of Pakistan announced that the PML-N had won 124 seats in Parliament. Needing 13 additional seats to form a majority,
Sharif held talks with elected independent candidates to form a coalition. Eight days later, 18 independent candidates joined the
party, allowing PML-N to form the government without the agreement of another political party. Sharif stated that he wanted to
take his oath as prime minister on 28 May, the fifteenth anniversary of the Chagai-I nuclear tests
• On 27 June 2014, Khan announced that PTI would march on 14 August in protest of the government, alleging that the 2013
elections had been rigged. On 6 August 2014, Khan demanded the assemblies be dissolved and the resignations of the election
commission and prime minister, claiming that the march would be the "biggest political protest in the history of the country." PTI
began their march from Lahore on 14 August and reached Islamabad on 16 August. Khan accused Sharif of plundering the national
wealth, and called on the public to withhold taxes and payment of utility bills to force the government to resign. In protest of
alleged election rigging, the PTI's lawmakers announced their resignation from the National Assembly, and the Punjab and Sindh
assemblies. PML-N attempted to negotiate a settlement with Khan and his party's backers to break the political deadlock. On 22
August 2014, Khan and his fellow 33 PTI lawmakers resigned from the national assembly. He called for a caretaker government to
be formed of non-politicians, and for fresh elections.
 NS 3rd Term (2013-2017)
• Sharif was sworn in for an third term as prime minister on 7 June 2013. He faced numerous challenges,
including bringing an end to US drone strikes and Taliban attacks while also tackling a crippled economy.
Speculation was rife that the new government would need a bailout from the International Monetary Fund to
restore economic stability
• Sharif's third term moved from social conservatism to social centrism. In 2016, he called the future of Pakistan
as one underpinned as an "educated, progressive, forward looking and an enterprising nation. In January 2016
he backed the Punjab government policy of banning Tablighi Jamaat from preaching in educational institutions
• Sharif's government hanged Mumtaz Qadri on 29 February 2016. NS promised that the perpetrators of honour
killings would be 'punished very severely‘
• Sharif's government declared that the Hindu festivals Diwali and Holi, and the Christian festival of Easter, were
officially public holidays. On 6 December 2016, Sharif approved the renaming of Quaid-i-Azam University's
(QAU) physics centre to the Professor Abdus Salam Center for Physics. In response, the Council of Islamic
Ideology criticised Sharif's move claiming that "changing the department's name would not set the right
precedent"
• On 9 January 2017, the government denied visas for international preachers for the Tablighi Jamaat conference
in Lahore. Jamia Binoria criticised the government's decisions.
• Sharif, in a March 2017 address at Jamia Naeemia, urged Islamic scholars to spread the true teachings of Islam
and take a firm stand against those who are causing disunity among Muslims. Sharif called for a "progressive
and prosperous Muslim world", and asked "religious scholars to [...] take the war against these terrorists to its
logical end."
 Economic Performance 3rd Term
• Economic policy
Fiscal Year GDP growth Inflation rate
2013–14 Increase 4.14% 10 8.5%
2014–15 Increase 4.24% 10 4.8%
2015–16 Increase 4.5% 10 5.1%
2016–17 Increase 5.2%
• The country's economy faced many challenges including energy shortages, hyperinflation, mild
economic growth, high debt and large budget deficit
• In 2013, NS received a US$6.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avoid a
balance-of-payments crisis. Lower oil prices, higher remittances and increased consumer spending
pushed growth toward a seven-year high of 4.3 percent in FY2014–15
• Experts attribute gradual growth in economy to the continued low prices for oil and other commodities,
the expected pick-up in growth in the advanced economies, and some alleviation of power shortages
• Sovereign debt of Pakistan increased dramatically, with total debts and liabilities swelled to Rs 22.5
trillion (or US$73 billion) by August 2016. Sharif's administration issued a five-year $500-million
Eurobond in 2015 at 8.25% interest and in September 2016, it also raised $1 billion by floating Sukuk
(Islamic bonds) at 5.5%.
 3rd Term Performance
• The Sharif administration negotiated free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand trade liberalisation, notably with Turkey, South Korea,
Iran, and Thailand, and an expansion of the FTA with Malaysia.
• According to the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), quality of governance had 'marginally
improved' during the Sharif's first year in power within an overall score of 44%
• On 4 July 2013, the IMF and Pakistan reached a provisional agreement on a US$5.3 billion bailout package to bolster Pakistan's
flagging economy and its perilously low foreign exchange reserves, that was contrary to an election promise not to take any more
loans. On 4 September, IMF approved another $6.7 billion loan package over a three-year period. Business confidence in Pakistan
reached a three-year high in May 2014 backed by increasing foreign reserves which crossed US$15 billion by mid-2014
• In May 2014, IMF stated that inflation had dropped to 13% (compared to 25% in 2008), foreign reserves were in a better position
and that the current account deficit had come down to 3% of GDP. In FY2015, industrial growth slowed due to power shortages.
• On 8 April 2016, following lobbying by international development groups, the government changed its methodology for measuring
poverty.
• On 9 May, the World Bank's Pakistan Development Report stated that the current account was in a healthy position, but that
Pakistan's export competitiveness has diminished due to protectionist policies, poor infrastructure, and high transaction costs for
trade
• On 15 December 2016, Pakistan became a signatory of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD)
Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, aimed at curbing tax evasion. On 24 October 2016, months after
the Sharif government concluded a US$6.4 billion three-year program, IMF MD Christine Lagarde visited Pakistan, during which she
maintained Pakistan was "out of economic crisis“
• On 1 November 2016, Pakistan and China began trade under the CPEC
• The government announced plans to restructure PIA. PIA was split into two companies: a holding group would retain some Rs 250
billion in debt and excess personnel, and a "new" PIA would hold the lucrative landing rights and new aircraft.
• On 23 December 2016, a Chinese consortium won the bid for a 40% stake in the PSX with an offer of US$85.5 million.
 3rd Term Performance
• Upon assuming office, Sharif launched the Public Sector Development
Programme (PSDP) which constructed major projects to stimulate the economy.
This included Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Dasu Dam, Faisalabad-Khanewal M-4
Motorway, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus Service and Lahore-Karachi
Motorway. Sharif also approved feasibility studies for numerous other projects
• During FY2014–15, Sharif's government announced additional PSDP funding from
Rs 425 to Rs 525 billion. The government allocated Rs 73 billion of PSDP funds for
the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including the Lahore-Karachi Motorway.
• On 24 April 2014, mobile companies Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone and Zong won
auctions for 3G and 4G mobile spectrum licenses, raising US$1.112 billion. Sharif
stated that Rs 260 billion will be collected in annual revenue from the licenses,
while the technology would create millions of jobs in the service sector.[199]
Sharif also launched the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, providing a Rs 20
billion fund for interest-free loans, skills development and provision of laptop
computers.