Nawaz Sharif (2013-2017)

Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician and businessman who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms. His terms were from November 1990 to July 1993, from February 1997 to October 1999, and from June 2013 to July 2017. He was born on December 25, 1949, in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Sharif comes from a wealthy business family and established himself as a prominent industrialist before entering politics. He joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), a conservative political party, and rose through its ranks. He held various positions within the party and emerged as a key figure in Pakistani politics.

During his first two terms as Prime Minister, Sharif focused on economic liberalization, infrastructure development, and privatization. His policies aimed to stimulate economic growth and attract foreign investment. However, his government faced allegations of corruption and authoritarianism, which eventually led to his removal from office in a military coup in October 1999.

After a period of exile, Sharif returned to Pakistan in 2007 and re-entered politics. His party, the PML-N, won the general elections held in May 2013, and Sharif assumed office as Prime Minister for the third time.

During his third term, Sharif’s government prioritized infrastructure development, energy projects, and economic reforms. He launched several large-scale infrastructure initiatives, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.

However, Sharif’s government faced numerous challenges, including a deteriorating security situation, energy crises, and allegations of corruption. In July 2017, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Sharif from holding office due to undisclosed assets and financial irregularities revealed in the Panama Papers scandal. He was replaced by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as Prime Minister.

Following his disqualification, Sharif has been involved in legal battles and has faced imprisonment on corruption charges. Despite these challenges, he remains a significant political figure in Pakistan and continues to lead the PML-N party.