Meet Shahbaz Sharif – the next PM of Pakistan
Highlight
- Shahbaz Sharif played a key role in uniting the opposition against Imran Khan
- Shahbaz is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
- When former army chief Pervez Musharraf toppled the government in 1999, Shahbaz spent years in exile in Saudi
The United Opposition in Pakistan – a rainbow of socialist, liberal and radical religious parties, named Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif as the joint candidate. Former Chief Minister of Punjab province and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has been nominated to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan after ousting Imran Khan.
Who is Shahbaz Sharif?
Shahbaz is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was removed from his premiership by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and later the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on charges of assets beyond the limits of his wealth, is currently in London and Imran Khan is being accused of plotting, planning and facilitating the no-confidence motion against him by conspiring in partnership and support of America and other Western countries.
Being a member of the wealthy and well-known Sharif family, Shahbaz is also accused of being part of the family lineage that leads his political party PML-N and “centered” only on people within the family. However, for many, Shahbaz comes with a different set of abilities and credentials which, many feel, could be a good change for the country.
Political track record of Shahbaz Sharif
Sharif comes with a strong political track record of being the longest serving Chief Minister of Punjab province. Shahbaz has been credited with being the “best” chief minister in the past compared to other provinces, as Punjab is the most developed and powerful province in Pakistan. In 1988, Shahbaz was elected to the Punjab Provincial Assembly. Later, he became a member of the National Assembly (MNA) in 1990. But with the toppling of the government of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999 by then army chief Pervez Musharraf, Shahbaz spent years in exile in Saudi Arabia before returning to Pakistan, along with the Sharif family. in 2007. Shahbaz was re-elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab as his party PML-N formed the government in the province. Shahbaz became the president of PML-N after his brother Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by Pakistani courts.
He was the Chief Minister of Punjab for the third time in 2013 and completed his full term till 2018, when the PML-N lost the general election.
Shehbaz Sharif accused of corruption
It is worth noting that Shahbaz, like other members of the Sharif family, is facing serious charges of corruption and money laundering by the country’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He was arrested from Lahore High Court (LHC) in 2020 on the same charges and put behind bars. But after getting bail, Shahbaz is at the forefront of becoming the Prime Minister of the country.
Played an important role in uniting the opposition against Imran Khan
Shahbaz Sharif played a major role in uniting the opposition parties and forming the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). It is also believed that unlike Khan, who “ignored and rejected” the opposition and did not even “will” to speak with them, Shahbaz’s approach would be that of a more inclusive politician, attempting to run a coalition government. can be focused. To ensure “better and smoother” political and democratic stability in Parliament and legislations, with better political understanding and mutual agreements.
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