Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on three separate occasions: from November 1990 to July 1993, from February 1997 to October 1999, and from June 2013 to July 2017. He is a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), a center-right political party in Pakistan.
Born on December 25, 1949, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sharif is the son of Muhammad Sharif, a successful industrialist. He received his early education in Lahore and later attended the Government College University, where he earned a degree in law.
Sharif entered politics in the 1980s and was first elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, in 1985. He held this position until 1990, when he was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
During his first term as Prime Minister, Sharif implemented a number of economic and political reforms. He privatized state-owned enterprises, liberalized the economy, and implemented a number of infrastructure projects, including the construction of motorways and power plants.
However, Sharif's first term was also marked by political turmoil and conflict with the military. In 1993, he was removed from office by the President of Pakistan on charges of corruption and mismanagement.
Sharif was re-elected as Prime Minister in 1997 and served until 1999, when he was again removed from office, this time by a military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf. Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia and was not allowed to return to Pakistan until 2007.
Upon his return to Pakistan, Sharif was immediately arrested and charged with corruption. He was later released on bail and began rebuilding his political career. In 2013, he was once again elected as Prime Minister, this time with a clear majority in Parliament.
During his third term as Prime Minister, Sharif faced a number of challenges, including a deteriorating security situation, a fragile economy, and widespread corruption. He also faced opposition from the military, which has historically played a significant role in Pakistani politics.
Despite these challenges, Sharif was able to implement a number of reforms and achieved some notable successes during his time in office. He oversaw the construction of several major infrastructure projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a series of infrastructure and development projects worth billions of dollars. He also worked to improve relations with India and Afghanistan, and helped to improve the country's energy crisis by increasing electricity generation capacity.
However, Sharif's tenure was also marked by controversy and corruption scandals. In 2017, he was disqualified from office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for failing to disclose his assets and for being "dishonest" in his parliamentary disclosures. He was also sentenced to prison for corruption in 2018.
Since his disqualification and imprisonment, Sharif has remained an influential political figure in Pakistan and continues to lead the PML-N from abroad. He has been a vocal critic of the current Pakistani government and has called for greater democracy and civilian control over the military.
Overall, Nawaz Sharif is a controversial figure in Pakistani politics who has had a significant impact on the country's political landscape. While he has achieved some notable successes during his time in office, he has also faced criticism and legal problems related to corruption and mismanagement. Regardless of his personal controversies, Sharif remains an important political figure in Pakistan and continues to influence the direction of the country's politics.
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