Nawaz Sharif is hoping to end his unfortunate streak of not being prime minister for a full term on four occasions, having already held the position more times than any other leader in Pakistan.
Born in 1949 and 1950, respectively, Nawaz and Shehbaz have been well-known figures in politics since the 1980s.
After completing his education, Nawaz joined the family firm, the House of Ittefaq (Ittefaq Group), an industrial conglomerate with interests in steel, textiles, and sugar. During General Ziaul Haq’s administration, Nawaz started his political career as Punjab’s finance minister.
He was originally chosen in 1985 to serve as the province’s chief minister, and he was again chosen in 1988 following the lifting of martial law. Following Haq’s passing in August of that year, Nawaz’s Pakistan Muslim League of, divided into two groups. He assumed leadership of the PML, which subsequently evolved into the PML-N.
Shehbaz, meantime, was chosen in 1988 to serve as a member of the Punjab Assembly.
Shehbaz was again pushed to the sidelines as Nawaz led the PML-N’s election campaign upon his return to Pakistan on October 21. Shehbaz was found not guilty in every case in which he was tried in recent months, and Nawaz was also successful in his appeals of the decisions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references.
In light of Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, the SC overturned parliamentarians’ lifetime ban on January 8, providing Nawaz with the necessary clearance. Other parties dubbed Nawaz the “ladla” (blue-eyed kid) of the establishment as a result of the quick acquittals; PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari claimed Nawaz was attempting to “get selected” as prime minister for a fourth time.
