Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who was born in Lahore on 25 December 1949, has served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2013 until he was disqualified for life from office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2017. He had previously served as the Prime Minister twice in the 90s (1990–93 and 1997–99) and the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1985 to 1990. He is Pakistan's longest-serving prime minister.

His father, Mian Muhammad Sharif, was an upper middle-class businessman and industrialist who had migrated from Amritsar district to Pakistan during the Partition in 1947.

His family owns Ittefaq Group, a multimillion dollar steel conglomerate. His brother Mian Shahbaz Sharif is the Chief Minister of Punjab province while his nephew Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is a member of the National Assembly and his daughter Maryam Nawaz is also in politics and a leader of his party.

A graduated from the Government College University, Lahore with an art and business degree and then received a law degree from the University of Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif started his political career during the time of nationalisation policy of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Soon after discovering that the family steel business was lost into the hands of the government, Mian Nawaz Sharif jumped into national politics.

In 1976, Mian Nawaz Sharif politically motivated himself and joined the Pakistan Muslim League, initially focused to regain the control of his steel industry from the hands of Bhutto's government. In May 1980 Ghulam Jilani Khan, the recently-appointed Governor of the Punjab Province and a former Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), initiated a search for new urban leaders, and Nawaz Sharif was one of the men he found and promoted, quickly making him Finance Minister of the Punjab.

In 1981, Nawaz Sharif joined the Punjab Advisory Board under General Zia-ul-Haq and principally rose to public and political prominence as a staunch proponent of the military government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq during the 1980s.

He maintained close relations with Zia-ul-Haq, who soon agreed to return to him his private steel mill which had been lost during the wave of nationalisation by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Nawaz Sharif maintained an alliance with General Rahimuddin Khan, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. During his political career, Nawaz Sharif also had close ties with the Director-General of ISI Lieutenant-General (retired) Hamid Gul, who played a substantial role in the formation of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, a conservative political alliance that supported Nawaz Sharif.

Mian Nawaz Sharif also invested a large capital in the Saudi Arabia and the rich oil Arab and Middle Eastern countries to restart his steel empire.

In 1981, he initially joined as a member of the Punjab Advisory Council under General Ghulam Jilani Khan, the Governor of the Province. Since his early career, Nawaz Sharif has been a strong vocal of capitalism and strongly opposed its inverse, the nationalisation. In 1980s, Nawaz Sharif gained influence on General Zia-ul-Haq who had previously agreed to return his steel industry to him, convincing the General to denationalise and deregulate the industries in order to improve the economy. Under the Military government of Lieutenant-General Ghulam Jilani Khan, Sharif was appointed as the provisional finance minister and successfully attempted to denationalise all of the government-owned industries to private sector.

As provincial finance minister, Nawaz Sharif presented development-oriented budgets to the military government. He gained prominence and fame in Punjab Province which also extended the rule of General Ghulam Jillani, as he improved the law and order situation in Punjab Province. Financial policies drafted and approved by Nawaz Sharif, who was backed by General Zia, Punjab Province benefited with the better financial capital and purchasing power. Punjab Province's locals were greatly and exponentially improved. Punjab Province having Nawaz Sharif as Finance minister, received many funds by the federal government than any other provinces of Pakistan. Due to its huge financial capital in 1980s, Punjab Province was Pakistan's richest province and Punjab Province's better standard of living comparing to other provinces.

In 1985, General Ghulam Jilani Khan nominated Nawaz Sharif as Chief Minister of the Punjab. Nawaz Sharif secured the landslide victory during the non-political parties 1985 elections and became Chief Minister of Punjab. He served for two consecutive terms as Chief Minister of Punjab Province, the most populous province of Pakistan. Because of his vast popularity, he received the nickname "Lion of the Punjab". As chief minister, he stressed welfare and development activities and the maintenance of law and order.

The provincial martial law Administrator of Punjab Province, Lieutenant-General Ghulam Jilani Khan sponsored the government of Nawaz Sharif, and Nawaz Sharif built his ties with the senior army generals who would remain supportive and sponsored Nawaz Sharif's ministerial ship.

General Jilani Khan made much headway in beautifying Lahore, extending military infrastructure, and muting political opposition, while Nawaz Sharif maintained the law and order in the province and expanded the economical infrastructure that benefited the people of Punjab province.

In 1985, General Zia dismissed the government of hand-picked Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo, and called for new elections. However, with all the provincial and national assemblies, dissolved General Zia-ul-Haq retained Nawaz Sharif as the Chief Minister of Punjab Province, and continued Nawaz Sharif's support until his death and the elections were held in 1988.

After General Zia's death in August 1988, Zia's political party Pakistan Muslim League (Pagara Group) split into two factions. Nawaz Sharif led the Zia loyalist Fida Group against the Junejo Group, led by Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. The Fida Group later took on the mantle of the PML while the Junejo Group became known as the JIP. Both parties along with seven other right-wing conservatives and religious parties, united and with the encouragement and funding from the ISI formed the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI). The alliance was co-led by Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Nawaz Sharif to oppose Benazir Bhutto's PPP in the elections. The IJI gained substantial majorities in the Punjab and Nawaz Sharif was re-elected Chief Minister of Punjab.

In December 1989, Nawaz Sharif decided to remain in the provincial Punjab Assembly rather than in the National Assembly. In early 1989, the PPP government failed to unseat Nawaz Sharif through a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly. Nawaz Sharif retained control by a vote of 152 to 106.

The conservative forces for the first times in the country's history came into the power under a democratic system, under the leadership of the Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif became the 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1 November 1990 as well as he was the head of IJI and succeeded Benazir Bhutto as Prime minister. He campaigned on a conservative platform and vowed to reduce government corruption. He focused on improving the nation's infrastructure and spurred the growth of digital telecommunication. He privatised government banks and opened the door for further industrial privatisation, and disbanded Zulfikar Bhutto's policies. He legalised foreign money exchange to be transacted through private money exchangers. His privatisation policies were continued by both Benazir Bhutto in mid-1990s and Shaukat Aziz as well in 2000s.

Nawaz Sharif took steps to initiate Islamization and conservatism at once. The continuation of conservative change in Pakistan was encouraged, a policy started by Zia ul Haq. Reforms were made to introduce fiscal conservatism, supply-side economics, bio-conservatism and religious conservatism in Pakistan.

He took many steps to raise the issue of Kashmir on international forums, to transfer power peacefully in Afghanistan so to put an end to the drug smugglers and illegal transaction of unregistered weapons across the border which was promoting then increasing numbers of dacoits in the country. Nawaz Sharif intensified General Zia-ul-Haq's controversial Islamization policies, and introduced Islamic Laws such as the Shariat Ordinance and Bait-ul-Maal (to help poor orphans widows, etc.); Moreover, he gave tasks to the Ministry of Religion to prepare reports and recommendations for steps taken for Islamization. He ensured the establishment of three committees.

He believed in forming a Muslim Bloc by uniting all Central Asian Muslim countries thus he extended the membership of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to all Central Asian countries. Nawaz Sharif was pretty confident that he had majority in the assembly thus he ruled with considerable confidence. He had disputes with three successive army chiefs. Nawaz Sharif took the issue of environmentalism as part of his government platform, and established the Environmental Protection Agency in 1997, as part of his environmental conservatism policy.

Shortly after assuming the office of prime minister, Nawaz Sharif announced his economic policy under the programme called, the "National Economic Reconstruction Programme" (NERP). This programme introduced an extreme level of the Western-styled capitalist economic system. An intensified Privatization Programme was commenced, embarked and presided by Nawaz Sharif, in a vision to turning Pakistan into a (South) Korea by encouraging greater private saving and investment to accelerate economic growth.

In 1990, Nawaz Sharif announced the nuclear policy and aimed to continue the peaceful atomic programme benefit for country's economic infrastructure. Nawaz Sharif expanded and industrialised the nuclear energy program in entire country and peaceful and economic infrastructure was extensively built by him by the 1990s. Many of the nuclear medicine and nuclear engineering projects were completed under his government as part of Nawaz Sharif's Atoms for Peace programme.

During the period of 1990–93, around 115 nationalised industries were put under private-ownership management. A number of important industries, such as Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation, and Pakistan State Oil were opened up to the private sector. In 1990, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif successfully privatised the National Development Finance Corporation.

Nawaz Sharif also upgraded the Islamic laws such as Shariat Ordinance and Bait-ul-Maal (to help poor, orphans and widows) to drive the country to become a truly Islamic welfare state.

He introduced and inaugurated several large scale projects to stimulate the economy, such as the Ghazie-Barotah Hydropower plant. However, unemployment remained a challenge therefore Nawaz Sharif imported thousands of privatised Yellow-cab taxis for many young Pakistanis.

During his second term, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif built the Pakistan's first largest major motorway which is known as M2 Motorway (3MM), and it is often called as Autobahns of South Asia. This semi-government and semi-privatized mega project was completed in November 1997 at a cost of U.S. $989.12 million.

By the end of the second term of Nawaz Sharif government, the economy was in a turmoil that damaged Nawaz Sharif's credibility. Facing serious structural issues and financial problems, the inflation and the foreign debt stood at an all-time high and the unemployment that reached at its highest point in the history of Pakistan. Pakistan had debts of $32bn against reserves of little more than $1bn. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had suspended aid demanding the country finances to be sorted out. Nawaz Sharif attempted to control the Stock Exchanges under government's control, but that move backfired brutally on Nawaz Sharif and by the time Nawaz Sharif was deposed, the country was heading for a financial default.

Nawaz Sharif took steps for intense government control of science in Pakistan and the projects needed his authorisation. In 1991, Nawaz Sharif founded and authorised the Pakistan Antarctic Programme 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 the Polar Research Cell. In 1992, Pakistan became an Associate Member of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research which was signed by his Science Adviser Dr. Munir Ahmed Khan at United Nations.

Nawaz Sharif countered the international pressure, and followed the same suit as Benazir's, and refused to make compromise to halt the programme despite the United States having offered a large economic aid to Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif's nuclear policy was seen less aggressive towards India and focused the atomic programme for the benefit of public usage and civil society. His nuclear policy was viewed by experts as vintage Atoms for Peace programme — the United States' 1950s programme to use the nuclear energy for civil purposes, and to promote peaceful nuclear technology in the world as well.

In 1993, Nawaz Sharif authorised to establish the Institute of Nuclear Engineering (INE) and promoted his policy for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. On 28 July 1997, Nawaz Sharif declared 1997 a year of science in Pakistan, and personally allotted funds for the 22nd INSC College on Theoretical Physics. In 1999, Nawaz Sharif signed the executive decree, declaring the day of 28 May as the National Science Day in Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif lost support from Punjab Province and Kashmir Province when the co-operative societies, scandal became public. Co-operative societies accept deposits from members and can legally make loans only to members for purposes that are to the benefit of the society and its members. However, mismanagement of these societies led to a collapse in which millions of Pakistanis lost money in 1992. In Nawaz Sharif’s native Punjab Province and the Kashmir Province, around 700,000 people mostly poor people lost all their savings when the states co-operative societies went bankrupt. It was soon discovered that the society had granted billions of rupees to the Ittefaq Group of Industries (Nawaz Sharif's owned Steel mill). Though Ittefaq Group's management hurriedly repaid the loans to the affectees, but the Prime minister's reputation was severely damaged.

The executive authorisation of Pakistan's nuclear testing programme was an important turning point in his political career that would bring his image in to world prominence. Soon, after the Prime Minister learned the surprise tests conducted by India, codename Pokhran-II in May 1998, through the media. Judging from country's economic situation and financial troubles, Nawaz Sharif neither favoured nor opposed the authorisation of the nuclear testing programme.

In his first term, Nawaz Sharif funded Pakistan's nuclear, missile and space programme, as well as allotted funds for the science research, particularly its extension to defence. In May 1998, soon after Indian nuclear tests, Nawaz Sharif vowed that his country would give a suitable reply to the Indians. When India tested its nuclear weapons the second time, it caused a great alarm in Pakistan and pressure mounted to built on the Prime minister. On 15 May 1998, Nawaz Sharif called and chaired a National Security Council meeting in Prime Minister Secretariat.

The Pakistan Armed Forces left the matter to elected Prime Minister, though Prime Minister Sharif put the Pakistan Armed Forces on high-alert. The discussions went on for a few hours and encompassed the financial, diplomatic, military, strategic and national security concerns. At this sensitive meeting, it has had two important agendas; first, whether or not Pakistan should conduct its nuclear tests in order to respond to Indian nuclear aggression. And, secondly, if the nuclear testing program does go ahead then which of the government science organisations— the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission or Kahuta Research Laboratories— conduct the nuclear testing as well as leading the nuclear testing program.

Mushahid Hussain Syed, Information Minister, was the first person to propose the tests, while, Sartaj Aziz who was the Finance Minister that time, was the only person in the meeting who opposed the tests on financial grounds due to the economic recession, the low foreign exchange reserves of the country and the effect of inevitable economic sanctions which would be imposed on Pakistan if it carried out the tests. When it came to voting, the Prime Minister neither opposed nor proposed the tests. The remainder spoke in favour of conducting the tests.

Nuclear physicist Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and metallurgical engineer Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan of Kahuta Research Laboratories equally presented their point of views, and approached for the permission from the Prime minister. The meeting concluded without any resolution of the two agenda points. On 16 May, senior scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan had briefed the prime minister on key weapon-grade explosives issues and also briefed on the latest situation on Pakistan's different weapon-testing laboratories at that time.

On the morning of 17 May 1998, Nawaz Sharif summoned Ishfaq Ahmad and asked him for his opinion on two points discussed on 15 May. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed told the prime minister that the decision to test or not to test was that of the Government of Pakistan. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad also acknowledged that PAEC was ready for the capability of carrying out the tests. Nawaz Sharif then concluded that eyes of the world were focused on Pakistan and failure to conduct the tests would put the credibility of the Pakistan's nuclear deterrence programme in doubt. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad then said, "Conducting a nuclear test is a highly political decision, and no matter the wish of scientific community may be, the political leadership of the country will have its say.... Mr. Prime Minister, take a decision, then I give you the guarantee of success."

Initially, the Prime minister waited to see the world reaction on India's nuclear tests, while observing the embargo placed on Indian economy, which had no placed no effects. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, at first, was hesitant towards the nuclear test programme and its economical turn out if the tests are ordered. Few days after the Indian tests, Indian Home Minister Lal Kishanchand Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes issued foolish taunts and threatening statements towards Pakistan, which angered the prime minister.

On 18 May, Prime Minister Sharif ordered PAEC to make preparation for the tests, but remain on stand-by for the final decision. In his own words, Nawaz Sharif called Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and ordered him, "Conduct the explosion!" Simultaneously, Nawaz Sharif ordered, the XII Corps, Southern Naval Command, National Logistics Cell, and No. 6 Squadron Globe Trotters were put on high-alert to provide the necessary support to the PAEC in this regard. On 21 May, Nawaz Sharif issued orders to conduct nuclear tests as a suitable reply to India, and authorised the nuclear weapon testing program the same day. A Boeing-737 airline from Pakistan International Airlines was readily made available for PAEC scientists, engineers, and technicians to Balochistan.

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and scientists and engineers from KRL were also told to stay alert and were also sent to Balochistan along with PAEC. On the early morning of 27 May 1998, the ISI spotted camouflage F-16s were spotted conducting exercises; the ISI quickly got the word that the Israeli fighters, flying on behalf of India were inbound to take out Pakistan’s nuclear facilities. When Nawaz Sharif heard the news, he angrily ordered PAF to be scrambled and rolled its nuclear bombs out of their shelters in preparation to launch. But on the night of 27 May, the United States and other nations assured Nawaz Sharif that "Pakistan was safe, the Israeli attack never materialized", according to political scientist Dr. Shafik H. Hashmi.

Finally, Pakistan carried out its successful nuclear tests on 28 May 1998 (codename Chagai-I), and on 30 May 1998 (codename Chagai-II), in response to the Indian detonation of six nuclear devices roughly two weeks before. After these test, the Prime Minister appeared on Pakistan Television Corporation and took the nation in confidence and addressed the world:

If [Pakistan] had wanted, she (Pakistan) would have conducted nuclear tests 15–20 years ago but the abject poverty of the people of the region dissuaded [Pakistan] 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 of her. If (Japan) had its own nuclear capability (cities of) Hiroshima and Nagasaki would not have suffered atomic destruction at the hands of the United States.

After weeks of anticipation, Pakistan surprised the world by conducting its own nuclear tests. Nawaz Sharif's popularity in Pakistan increased. While he was being hailed as nationalist, Nawaz Sharif proclaimed an emergency on the same day as these nuclear tests were conducted, which dismayed the public. All foreign currency accounts in Pakistani banks were frozen to minimise the effects of economic sanctions. This was detrimental to the account holders.

He put the Pakistan Armed Forces on high alert in order to defend country's nuclear installations. He justified the tests on national security grounds, as they demonstrated Pakistan's nuclear deterrent capabilities against an armed Indian nuclear programme. Under his premiership, Pakistan became the first Muslim country and seventh nation to become a nuclear power.

Nawaz Sharif strengthened relations with Muslim world, Turkey, and Europe. The year he was elected, Nawaz Sharif made a state visit to Malaysia and Singapore where Nawaz Sharif succeeded to sign an economic and free trade agreements with both countries. It was a trilateral trade bloc in South Asia and Premiers of Singapore, Malaysia, and Pakistan had successfully signed the agreement. Following the agreement, the work on comprehensive frame work to enhance collaboration in defence, economic and private sector was launched and completed in 1998. One of the core issues was the Malaysia's agreement on sharing its space technology to Pakistan. Both Malaysia and Singapore assured their support for Pakistan to join Asia–Europe Meeting. However, it was not until 2008, Pakistan and India became part of the treaty.

On January 1998, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid a state visit to South Korea, where he successfully signed the bilateral and economical agreements with South Korean President Kim Young-sam. Nawaz Sharif also urged the North Korea to make peace and improve its ties with South Korea. His statement caused a diversion in Pakistan-North Korea relations. On April 1998, Nawaz Sharif went on to visit Italy, Germany, Poland, and Belgium to promote economic ties. He said in Brussels at an official reception, "We [Pakistan] seek understanding and cooperation with Europe". He signed a number of agreements to enlarge economic cooperation with Italy and Belgium, besides an agreement with European Union (EU) for the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights. In February 1997, the Prime Minister had meeting with Jiang Zemin, the Chinese president and Li Peng, the Premier, for economic cooperation. Two conferences were specially organised in Beijing and Hong Kong to promote Chinese investment in Pakistan.

However, Nawaz Sharif's effort seemed to be wasted when Nawaz Sharif ordered the nuclear tests on 1998. Following these tests, the Foreign policy of Pakistan was much in trouble position since its 1971 disaster. Pakistan, at United Nations, failed to gather any support from its allies. Trade agreements were abrogated by Europe, United States, and Asian bloc. While, Nawaz Sharif was praised to carry out tests domestically, Nawaz Sharif was heavily criticised for ordering internationally. Pakistan's nuclear weapons and energy programme was targeted on multiple times over its involvement for spreading the nuclear proliferation. United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia however did not criticised Pakistan but both neither issued any statement.

In 1999, he met with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Wagah border and signed a joint communique, known as the Lahore Declaration.

Since both countries had ordered their nuclear tests, both Prime Ministers proceeded towards maintaining peace and security. In 1998, both governments signed an agreement recognising the principle of building an environment of peace and security and resolving all bilateral conflicts, which became the basis of the Lahore Declaration. On 1 February 1999, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made a breakthrough with India when he invited his counterpart to Pakistan. On 19 February, Indian premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a historic state visit to Pakistan traveling on the inaugural bus service connecting the Indian capital of New Delhi with the city of Lahore, establishing a major transport link for the peoples of both nations.

On 21 February, both Prime Ministers signed the bilateral agreement with a memorandum of understanding to ensure the nuclear-free safety in South Asia. This bilateral agreement was widely popular in Pakistan and India onwards, the people of Pakistan supported the Prime Minister's move and the Prime Minister received wide appreciation from the opposition as well as the civil society. This agreement known as Lahore Declaration, it was widely assumed to development of nuclear weapons brought added responsibility to both nations towards avoiding conflict and promoted the importance of Confidence-building measures, especially to avoid accidental and unauthorised use of nuclear weapons. To some Western observers, this treaty was more like as of SALT Treaties signed by both superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States.

In late August 1998, he proposed a law to establish a legal system based on the Islamic principles. His proposal came a week after 10-year commemorations of the late president Zia ul-Haq. The Cabinet removed some of its controversial aspects. The National Assembly approved and passed the bill on 10 October 1998 by 151 votes to 16. With majority in Parliament, Nawaz Sharif drove Pakistan's political system more onto parliamentary system, reverting the previous semi-presidential system and laws fondly enjoyed by president. With passing these amendments, Nawaz Sharif became the strongest prime minister that the country has ever seen since its independence. However these amendments failed to achieve two-third majority in the Senate, which was still was under control by Pakistan People’s Party. Weeks afterward, Nawaz Sharif's government would suffer a military coup and these amendments went to cold storage after Pervez Musharraf replaced them with his 2002 LFO, putting back the country to semi-presidential system. However, in 2010, Pakistan Parliament unanimously passed the 18th Amendment, which was passed by both in National Assembly and Senate, putting back the country to the road to parliamentary system.

During his second term, Nawaz Sharif mounted problems with the Supreme Court. Nawaz Sharif's Fourteenth Amendment had prohibited legislators and lawmakers from dissenting or voting against their own parties. The XIV Amendment also contained the clause that the offending legislators could not seek relief through Judiciary, and the right of appeal was provoked by the XVI Amendment. When legislators of different parties took the case to Supreme Court, Nawaz Sharif was furious and frustrated with the actions of the Supreme Court. Nawaz Sharif openly criticized Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah, inviting a notice of contempt. After the military and the president reached to Nawaz Sharif to avoid a constitution crises Nawaz Sharif agreed to solve the issue amicably, but was determined to oust Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah.

From the 1981 until the military coup against him in 1999, Nawaz Sharif enjoyed strong and extremely friendly and cordial relations with the Pakistan Armed Forces – the only civilian leader to have cordial friendship and relationships with the military's establishment at that time. He later had severe political confrontation with in 1999 when he tried to replace General Musharraf with general loyal to him that resulted in a coup d'état which removed him from office.

The military placed him on military trial for "kidnapping, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism and corruption". The military court quickly convicted him in a speedy trial and gave him a life sentence. Report began to surface that the military court was near to give Nawaz Sharif a death sentence, previously had done by the military court in the trial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Nawaz Sharif was placed in Adiala Jail, infamous for hosting Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's trial. Nawaz Sharif's defence team blamed the military for intentionally providing their lawyers with inadequate protection. The military court proceedings were widely accused of being a show trial. Sources from Pakistan claimed that Musharraf and his military government's officers were in full mood to exercise tough conditions on Nawaz Sharif. The trial went fast and speedy, and it became authenticated that the court is near to place its verdict on Nawaz Sharif on his charges, and the court will sentence Nawaz Sharif to death. Nawaz Sharif was also set to face a case of "corruption", and received a 14 years life imprisonment additional. Nawaz Sharif also forced to pay US$400,000. The case centered on a civilian helicopter, which he said to have owned during mid-1990s.

Saudi Arabia and King Fahd initially came in shock when the news reached to Saudi Arabia, prompting King Fahd to contact the Pakistan Army over this military coup. Pakistan, under Nawaz Sharif and Saudi Arabia, under King Fahd, enjoyed extremely close business and cultural relations that is sometimes attributed as special relationships. Amid pressure exerted by the U.S. President Bill Clinton and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, the military court avoided the award death sentence to Nawaz Sharif. During the state visit of General Musharraf, King Fahd showed his concern over the trial as the King was worried that the death sentence would provoke more and intense ethnic violence in Pakistan as it did in 1980s. Under an agreement facilitated by Saudi Arabia, Nawaz Sharif was placed in exile for the next 10 years and through the Saudi Arabian Airlines. He has also forfeited property worth $8.3m (£5.7m) and agreed to pay a fine of $500,000.

Nawaz Sharif travelled to Jeddah where he was received by the Saudi officials and taken to a residence managed and controlled by Saudi Government. At Jaddah, the Saudi Arabian government gave Nawaz Sharif a loan to establish a steel mill and Nawaz Sharif bought a land where he went on to established the iron-steel mill foundry that is worth millions of dollars. During this episode of military coup, General Musharraf wrote in his memoirs that thanks to Saudi Arabia and King Fahd, Nawaz Sharif's life was spared by the military court otherwise Nawaz Sharif would have met the same fate as of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979.

On 23 August 2007, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz, were free to return. Both vowed to return soon.

On 8 September 2007, Lebanese politician Saad Hariri and Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz addressed an unprecedented joint press conference at Army Combatant Generals Headquarters (GHQ) to discuss how Nawaz Sharif's return would affect relations. Muqrin stated that the initial agreement was for 10 years but "these little things do not affect relations.” Muqrin expressed hope that Nawaz Sharif would continue with the agreement.

On 10 September 2007, Nawaz Sharif returned from exile in London [83] to Islamabad. He was prevented from leaving the plane and he was deported to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia within hours. His political career appeared to be over.

On 20 November 2007, Musharraf went to Saudi Arabia as he left the country for the first time since implementing emergency rule. He attempted to convince Saudi Arabia to prevent Nawaz Sharif from returning until after the elections in January 2008. Saudi Arabia appeared to argue that if Pakistan has allowed a democratic-socialist woman leader, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country, then the conservative Sharif should be permitted to return too.

On 25 November 2007, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan. Thousands of supporters whistled and cheered as they hoisted Nawaz Sharif and his brother on their shoulders through ranks of wary riot police officers. After an 11-hour procession from the airport, he reached a mosque where he offered prayers as well as criticism against Musharraf.

His return to Pakistan came with only one day left to register for elections. This set the stage for an overnight shift of the political scene.

Nawaz 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. Nawaz Sharif and the PML (N) decided to participate in the parliamentary elections after 33 opposition groups, including Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, met in Lahore but failed to reach a joint position.

For the elections, he campaigned for the restoration of the independent judges removed by emergency government decree and Musharraf's departure.

Benazir Bhutto's assassination led to the postponement of the elections to 18 February 2008. During the elections, both parties, but the Pakistan People’s Party in particular, rely on a mix of feudal relationships and regional sentiment for their voting bases – the Bhuttos in Sindh, Nawaz Sharif in the Punjab. Nawaz Sharif condemned Bhutto's assassination and called it the "gloomiest day in Pakistan's history".

Between Bhutto's assassination and the elections, the country faced a rise in attacks by militants. Nawaz Sharif accused Musharraf of ordering anti-terror operations that have 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. Nawaz Sharif's party quickly rejected the recommendation, accusing officials of trying to block the campaign against Musharraf since large rallies have traditionally been the main way to drum up support in election campaigns.

On 25 January, Musharraf initiated a failed four-day visit to London to use British mediation in Pakistani politics to reconcile with the Sharif brothers.

His party had joined a coalition led by PPP but the alliance had been strained by differences over the fate of judges Musharraf dismissed last year and over how to handle the unpopular president. Nawaz Sharif won much public support for his uncompromising stand against Musharraf and for his insistence the judges be reinstated. The coalition successfully forced Musharraf's resignation. He also successfully pressured Zardari for the reinstatement of judges removed by Musharraf in emergency rule. This led to the courts cleansing Nawaz Sharif of a criminal record rendering him eligible to re-enter parliament.

In June 2008 by-elections, Nawaz Sharif's party won 91 National Assembly seats and 180 provincial assembly seats in the Punjab. The Lahore seat election was postponed because of wrangling over whether Nawaz Sharif was eligible to contest.

In 2005, Daily Pakistan reported that Sharif family is the fourth wealthiest family in Pakistan with an estimated net worth of US$ 1.4 billion. The Sharif family is intensively playing their role in the industrial growth of the country and expanding the steel business empire by employing state-of-the-art technology in their steel business in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Middle East.