Nawaz Sharif
Mian
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (Urdu: میاں محمد نواز شریف, pronounced [nəˈʋaːz ʃəˈriːf]; born 25 December 1949)[1] is the 18th and
currentPrime Minister of Pakistan in
office since June 2013. A veteran politician and industrialist, he previously served as Prime Minister from
November 1990 to July 1993 and from February 1997 to October 1999. Sharif is
the president of Pakistan Muslim League (N),
which is currently Pakistan's largest political party,
and has formed the government. As the owner of Ittefaq Group, a leading business conglomerate, he is also one
of the country's wealthiest people.[2] He is commonly known as the "Lion of the Punjab".[3][4][5]
Nawaz Sharif entered politics in the 1980s when in the general elections of
1985, he won with an overwhelming majority, both in the National and Provincial
Assemblies. On 9 April 1985, he was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Punjab. On 31 May 1988, he was appointed caretaker Chief
Minister, after the dismissal of Assemblies by General Zia. Nawaz Sharif was again elected as Chief Minister after
the 1988 general elections.
After Zia's death and Benazir Bhutto's being elected Prime
Minister in 1988, Sharif emerged as opposition leader from the conservative Pakistan Muslim League.
When Bhutto was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990 on corruption charges, Sharif was elected Prime
Minister the same year. But relations between Sharif
and Ghulam Ishaq too deteriorated, with Ghulam Ishaq attempting to dismiss
Sharif on similar charges. Sharif successfully challenged the President's
decision in the Supreme Court,[6] but both men were ultimately persuaded to
step down in 1993 by army chief Abdul Waheed Kakar.[6]
Serving as the Leader of the
Opposition during Bhutto's second tenure, Sharif was
re-elected Prime Minister with a historic two-thirdsmajority in parliament,[7] after Benazir was again dismissed for corruption by new President Farooq Leghari.[7] Sharif replaced Leghari with Rafiq Tarar as President, then stripped the Presidency of its powers by passing the Thirteenth Amendment. He also notably ordered Pakistan's first nuclear tests in response to neighbouring India's second nuclear tests as part of the tit-for-tatpolicy.[8][9][10] When Western countries suspended foreign aid, Sharif froze the country's foreign currency reserves to
prevent furthercapital flight, but this
only worsened economic conditions.
With rising unemployment and record foreign debt,[11] Sharif's second term also saw tussles with
the judiciary and
the military. After Sharif was
summoned for contempt by the Supreme Court in
1997, party workers attacked
the court and Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. Sharif
also forcefully relieved Chairman joint
chiefs General Jehangir Karamat from the command of the military over a
policy issue and replaced him with Pervez Musharraf in 1998,[11] but after Pakistan's haphazard performance in
the Kargil War, relations between the two also deteriorated. When
he attempted to relieve Musharraf from his command on 12 October 1999, the militaryinstead ousted Sharif's government,
exiling him to Saudi Arabia.[11]
Sharif returned in 2008, and his party contested elections in
2008, forming the provincial government in Punjab under
Sharif's brother Shehbaz until 2013. He successfully called for Musharraf's
impeachment and the reinstatement of
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Between 2008 and 2013, Sharif was in opposition. In the general elections in
2013, his party achieved the largest numberof votes and
he formed a government to
become the 18th Prime Minister of Pakistan, returning to the position after
fourteen years, for an unprecedented third time.[12]
Sharif's third term in
office started on 5 June 2013,[13] since then his government has launched macro
economic stability with the help of substantial loans from international
financial institutions, while has signed multi-billion investment deals to
construct the CPECand to chronic
power shortages.[14] His government has also launched military offensive to
remove extremist groups in northwesternPakistan
and removed the moratorium on the death penalty, while on foreign policy front
his government has so far seen improved ties with United States as a result of the operation and with Russia, China among
others while relationship with India has deteriorated.[15] On the domestic front, Sharif struggled to
revive economic growth as electricity shortages remained an endemic problem.[16]
Contents
Early
life and education
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Nawaz Sharif
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Government[show]
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Politics
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Family[show]
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Business[show]
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Nawaz Sharif was born in the upper-middle class Bhat/Butt Sharif family in Lahore, Punjab on 25 December 1949.[1][17] The Sharif family are Punjabis of Kashmiri origin.[17] His father, Muhammad Sharif, was an upper middle-class businessman and
industrialist whose family had emigrated from Anantnag in Kashmir for business, eventually settling
in the village of Jati Umra in Amritsar district, Punjab in the beginning of the twentieth
century. His mother's family came from Pulwama.[18] After the movement led by Jinnah in his
struggle tocreate Pakistan in 1947, his parents migrated from Amritsar
to Lahore.[17] His father followed the teachings of the Ahl al-Hadith.[19] His family owns Ittefaq Group, a multimillion dollar steel conglomerate[20] and Sharif Group, a conglomerate company with holdings in
agriculture, transport and sugar mills.
He is married to Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif.[21] His brother Shahbaz Sharif is the incumbent Chief Minister of Punjab province
while his nephew Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is a
member of the National Assembly as
well as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.[22] His daughterMaryam Nawaz, apparently a housewife but sometimes active for
her father's party, is currently the chairperson for Prime Minister's youth
initiative.[23] His other daughter, Asma Nawaz, is married to
Ali Dar, who is a son of Ishaq Dar, the current finance minister of Pakistan.[18][24] The personal residence of the Sharif family, Raiwind Palace, is located in Jati Umra, Raiwind on the outskirts of Lahore.[25] He also has a residence in Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia known as the Sharif Villa, where he lived during his years in
exile.[26]
His son, Hussain Nawaz Sharif, currently resides in the Jeddah house.[27] He went to Saint Anthony High School.
He graduated from the Government
College University (GCU) with an art and business degree and
then received a law degree from
the Law College of Punjab University in Lahore.[28][29]
Initial
political career
Nawaz Sharif started his political career during the period of nationalisation policies introduced
by former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[17] The Sharif family were financially devastated
after discovering that the family steel business was lost into the hands of the
government as a result of Bhutto's nationalisation of the economy, and Sharif
jumped into national politics soon after.[17] In 1976, Sharif politically motivated himself
and joined the Pakistan Muslim League, a
conservative front rooted in the Punjab province. He initially focused on
regaining control of his steel industry from the government.[17] 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 Sharif was one of the men he
found and promoted, quickly making him Finance Minister of the Punjab.[30] In 1981, 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.[17]
He maintained close relations with the 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.[17] Sharif maintained an alliance with General Rahimuddin Khan, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee. During his political career, 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 (IJI)
– a conservative political alliance that supported Sharif.[17]
Sharif invested in Saudi Arabia and other oil-resource rich Arab countries
in the Middle East to restart his steel empire.[31] According to personal accounts and his time
spent with Sharif, American historian Stephen Philips Cohen states in his book Idea of Pakistan: "Nawaz Sharif
never forgave Bhutto after
his steel empire was lost into the hands of Bhutto; and even after [Bhutto's] terrible end, Sharif
publicly refused to forgive the soul of Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples Party."[31] After coming into national power in 1990,
Sharif attempted a reversal of Bhutto's nationalisation policies, introducing
an economy based on privatization and economic
liberalisation.[31]
Punjab
Advisory Council
In 1981, he initially joined as a member of the Punjab Advisory Council[28] under General Ghulam Jilani Khan,
the Governor of the Province.[30] Since his early career, Sharif has been a strong
vocal of capitalism and strongly opposed its inverse, the nationalisation.[17] In the 1980s, 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.[17] 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.[28] As provincial finance minister, he presented
development-oriented budgets to the military government.[28] As Finance minister, Sharif 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.[17] Financial policies drafted and approved by
Sharif, who was backed by General Zia, Punjab Province benefited with the
better financial capital and purchasing power of Punjab Province's locals were greatly and
exponentially improved. Punjab Province having Sharif as Finance minister,
received many funds by the federal government than any other provinces of Pakistan,
which also contributed in economical inequality between
Punjab Province and other provinces.[17] Due to its huge financial capital in the
1980s, Punjab Province was Pakistan's richest province and had a better standard of living compared
to other provinces.[17]
Chief
Minister of Punjab
In 1985 General Ghulam Jilani Khan nominated Sharif as Chief Minister of
the Punjab, against the wishes of the new prime minister, Muhammad Khan Junejo, who
wanted a rural candidate, Malik Allahyar.[30] Sharif secured a landslide victory during the
non-political parties 1985 elections and
became Chief Minister of Punjab with the support of the army.[17] He served for two consecutive terms as Chief
Minister of Punjab Province, the most populous province of Pakistan.[32] Because of his vast popularity, he received
the nickname "Lion of the Punjab".[33] As chief minister, he stressed welfare and
development activities and the maintenance of law and order.[28]
The provincial martial law Administrator of Punjab Province,
Lieutenant-General Ghulam Jilani Khan sponsored the government of Nawaz Sharif,
and Sharif built his ties with the senior army generals who would remain
supportive and sponsored Sharif's ministership.[28] General Jilani Khan made much headway in
beautifying Lahore, extending military infrastructure, and muting political
opposition, while Sharif maintained the law and order in the province, expanded
the economical infrastructure that not only benefited and also the people of
Punjab province.[28] In 1988, General Zia dismissed the government of
hand-picked Prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo, and
called for new elections.[28]However, with all the
provisional and the national assemblies were dissolved, General Zia-ul-Haq retained
Sharif as the Chief Minister of Punjab Province, and continued Sharif's support
until his death and
the elections were
held in 1988.[28]
1988
elections
Main article: Pakistani general election,
1988
After General Zia's death in August 1988, Zia's political party–Pakistan Muslim League (Pagara
Group)–split into two factions.[34] Sharif led the Zia loyalist Fida Group
against the Junejo Group, led by prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo.[34] The Fida Group later took on the mantle of
the PML while the Junejo Group became known as the JIP.[34] The two parties along with seven other
right-wing conservatives and religious parties united with encouragement and
funding from the ISI to form the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI).[34]The alliance was co-led
by Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and
Sharif to oppose Benazir Bhutto's PPP in the elections.[34] The IJI gained substantial majorities in the
Punjab and Sharif was reelected Chief Minister of Punjab.[34]
In December 1989, Sharif decided to remain in the provincial Punjab
Assembly rather than hold a seat in the National Assembly.[35] In early 1989, the PPP government failed to
unseat Sharif through a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly.[34] Sharif retained control by a vote of 152 to
106.[34]
First term as prime minister (1990–93)
The conservatives for the first time in the country's history, came into
the power under a democratic system, under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.[36] Nawaz Sharif became the 12th Prime Minister
of Pakistan on 1 November 1990 as well as head of IJI and succeeded Benazir
Bhutto as Prime minister.[36] IJI had been created and funded by the Zia
loyalists in the ISI; it received Rs 15 million from the ISI.[37] He campaigned on a conservative platform and
vowed to reduce government corruption.[36] He focused on improving the nation's
infrastructure and spurred the growth of digital telecommunication.[36] He privatised government banks and opened the
door for further industrial privatisation, and disbanded Zulfikar Bhutto's
policies.[36] He legalised foreign money exchange to be
transacted through private money exchangers.[36] His privatisation policies were continued by
both Benazir Bhutto in the mid-1990s and Shaukat Aziz as well in the 2000s.[36]
Conservative
policies
Nawaz Sharif meeting with conservative intellectuals of Pakistan in
Sindh Province, c. 1990s.
Sharif took steps to initiate Islamization and conservatism at once.[36] The continuation of conservative change in
Pakistan society was encouraged, a policy started by Zia ul Haq. Reforms were
made to introduce fiscal conservatism, supply-side economics, bioconservatismand religious conservatism in
Pakistan.[36]
He raised the issue of Kashmir in international forums and worked toward
a peaceful transfer power in Afghanistan so as to help end the rampant trading
of illicit drugs and weapons across the border.[36] Sharif intensified General Zia-ul-Haq's
controversial Islamizationpolicies, 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 toward Islamization. He ensured the establishment of three
committees.[36]
·
Ittehad-e-bain-ul-Muslemeen (Unity of
Muslims Bloc)
·
Nifaz-e-Shariat Committee (Sharia Establishment Committee)
·
Islamic Welfare Committee
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.[36] Nawaz Sharif was confident that he had
majority in the assembly thus he ruled with considerable confidence. He had disputes
with three successive army chiefs.[36] 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.[38]
Domestic
issues
Main articles: Operation Blue Fox, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Clean-up, Politics of Karachi, Economy of Karachi and Civil-military operations
Following the imposition and passing of the Resolution 660, Resolution 661,
and the Resolution 665,
Sharif sided with the United Nations on Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.[39] A major international incident took place in
the Middle East with Iraq invading the Kuwait which dismayed the world.
Sharif's government criticised Iraq for invading the fellow Muslim country,
which led to strained the Pakistan's relationships with
Iraq.[39] The relationships continued to be strained as
Pakistan seek to tighten its relations with
Iran, and his foreign policy continued by Benazir Bhutto, Pervez Musharraf
until the removal of Saddam Hussain in 2003.[39]
Sharif contended with former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg over the 1991 Gulf War (See Operation Desert Storm).[39] Under the direction of General Beg, Pakistan
Armed Forces actively participated in the conflict and the Army Special Service Group and
the Naval Special Service Group was
rushed to Saudi Arabia in order to provide intense security to Saudi royal family.[39] Sharif also contended the upcoming Chief of
Army Staff General Asif Nawaz over the paramilitary operation in Sindh Province(See Operation Clean-Up).[39]
Sharif, during his first term, founded difficult working with PPP and
the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM),
a potent force in Karachi.[40] The MQM and PPP opposed Sharif widely due to
his focused on beautifying Punjab and Kashmir while neglecting Sindh.[40] The MQM, a liberal force, also opposed
Sharif's conservatism. The clash between liberalism and conservatism soon
forces soon erupted in 1992 when political tension began to arise in which both
party renegading ideological war against each other.[40] Despite MQM had formed government with
Sharif, more and more problems were mounted between Sharif and the MQM in 1992.[40] Sharif's government members passed the
resolution in the Parliament, to launch the paramilitary operation to end the
cold war between PML-N and MQM.[40] During this time, the centre left Pakistan
Peoples Party remained quiet and neutral while watching the impact of the cold
war between liberal and conservative forces.[40] Prime minister Sharif also contended this
upcoming operation with Chief of Army Staff General Asif Navaz over the
paramilitary operation in Sindh Province (See Operation Clean-Up).[39] Launched in 1992, violence erupted in Karachi
and brought an economic halt in the country that dismantle Sharif's
industrialisation and investment that was being brought by Sharif.[40] Benazir Bhutto, during the course of this
episode, remained silent as she too had opposed the MQM.[40] His operation continued by Benazir also, but
due to amid pressure exerted by her brother Murtaza Bhutto, the operation came to halt.[40]The period of 1992–1994
is considered the bloodiest years in the history of the city, with many went
missing.[40]
During his second term, Altaf Hussain decided to join with Sharif and tried to
reach a compromise, Soon after the 1997 parliamentary elections,
MQM joined with Sharif but this alliance fall apart following the assassination
of Hakim Said.[40] Therefore, the Prime minister kicked the MQM
out of the government on immediate effect and assumed the control of Karachi.
MQM was forced to continued its political activities underground.[40] This action led Sharif to claim the exclusive
mandate of entire Pakistan, and for the first time in his political career,
Sharif and his party had the control of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber, Kashmir and
the Punjab Provinces.[40]
Industrialization and privatisation
Main articles: Spontaneous phase, Privatization
Programme and Economic
liberalisation in Pakistan
Sharif takes the credit building the largest superhighway in Pakistan as
part of his industrialisation policy.
Shortly after assuming the office of prime minister, Sharif announced
his economic policy under the programme called, the "National Economic
Reconstruction Programme" (NERP).[36] This programme introduced an extreme level of
the Western-styled capitalist economicsystem.[36]
Acknowledged since that the unemployment had become Pakistan's greatest
disadvantage in economic growth and that only industrial and privatisation
growth could solve the economic slow down.[36] An intensified Privatization Programme was
commenced, embarked and presided by Sharif, in a vision to "turning
Pakistan into a (South) Korea by encouraging greater private saving and
investment to accelerate economic growth.".[41] In 1990, Sharif announced the nuclear policy and
aimed to continue the peaceful atomic programmebenefit
for country's economic infrastructure. Sharif expanded and industrialised the nuclear energy program
in entire country and peaceful and economic infrastructure was extensively
built by him by the 1990s.[36] Many of the nuclear medicine and nuclear
engineering projects were completed under his government as part of Sharif's Atoms for Peace program.
The privatisation programme came
as a direct response to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and
the Peoples party led by Benazir and, for instance, Sharif's spontaneous
privatisation programme was swift as nationalisation programme of
peoples party in the 1970s.[42] However Prime minister Sharif lacked the
charisma and personality of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but
countered Bhutto's ideology with full force, by imitating him.[42] During the period of 1990–93, around 115
nationalised industries were put under private-ownership management but this
programme came with highest surrounding controversies with lacked competition
as the programme was largely controlled by favoured insider.[42] The recklessness and favouritism shown in
privatisation of the industrial and banking units by Prime minister Nawaz
Sharif was to become the hallmark and the rise of strong business oligarch who
have concentrated enormous assets, further increasing the wealth gap in
Pakistan and contributing to the political instability.[42]
Privatization programme reached the GDP growth rate to 7.57% (1992) but
dropped at 4.37% (1993; 1998).
Sharif also upgraded the Islamic laws such as Shariat Ordinance and Bait-ul-Maal (to help poor
orphans widows) to drive the country on the model of an Islamic welfare state.[36] Sharif family was an affectee of Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto's nationalisation policy.[36] 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.[36] In 1990, Prime minister Sharif successfully
privatised the National
Development Finance Corporation[36]
He introduced and inaugurated several large-scale projects to stimulate
the economy, such as the Ghazie-Barotah Hydropower plant and the.[36] However, unemployment remained a challenge,
therefore Sharif imported thousands of privatised Yellow-cab taxis to many young Pakistanis, but this program
came at a cost.[36] Few of the loans were repaid by the
government and Sharif founded it difficult to privatised these taxis at low
rate, since the young and poor could not afford at higher price.[36] However, Sharif indeed privatised these taxis
at low rate and his steel industry was forced to pay the remaining cost.[36] During his first and second term, Sharif
intensified his policies of industrialisation and privatisation of major industries that were nationalised by
former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[36] Undoing what was previously done in the 1970s
remained a challenge for Sharif but, despite the economical slow down, Sharif
reverted major policies of Bhutto and under short span of time, 90% of the industries
were industrialised and privatised by him.[36] This radical move did had positive impact on
country's economy and the economy progressed at an appropriate level.[36] Sharif policies were also continued by
Benazir Bhutto, who nationalised only those industries that needed a government
bail out plan, and by Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz in the 2000s who managed to privatised all of
the major industries by the end his term in 2008.[36]
A line graph indicating the policy benefits enjoyed and favoured to his
native province, Punjab.
As his second term, Prime minister Sharif built the largest Pakistan
first major motorway which is known as M2 Motorway (3MM), and it
is often called as Autobahns of South Asia.[36] This semi-government and semi-privatized mega
project was completed in November 1997 at a cost of U.S. $989.12 million.[36] His critics questions the lay out of the
highway due to excessive length, being away from the important cities and
absence of link roads even with important towns. Furthermore the funds
originally allocated to the construction of Indus Highway linking Peshawar with
Karachi were shifted to M2 Motorway thus benefiting his native Punjab and
Kashmir provinces at the cost of other provinces. When the true nature of
Sharif's motives were exposed, the people of other provinces were extremely
displeased, leading to discordance and disharmony among provinces. The welfare
of other provinces, notable Sindh and Balochistan Province, were not seriously
taken by Sharif and his ruling chief ministers and people of these provinces
were disenchanted with him. After the completion of this mega project, Sharif’s
policies were undermined by lack of capital for investments.[36] There was an influx of foreign capital when
he loosened foreign exchange restrictions and opened Karachi Stock Exchange to
foreign capital, but the government remained short of funds for investments.[36]
During his first term, Sharif focused his industrialisation on Punjab and Kashmir Provinces, mild and few projects were completed in Khyber and Balochistan provinces.
While, theSindh Province did
not benefit with his industrialisation.[36] After receiving intense criticism by Pakistan Peoples Party and
the liberal-secular Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM),
Sharif launched the Orangi Cottage Industrial Zone which
was completed and finally inaugurated by him.[36] However, prime minister's reputation in Sindh
was widely damaged because of his focused on beautifying Lahore and Kashmir
while he neglected other provinces.[36] Sharif's industrialisation are also target by
his opponents as it was focused and circled only on Punjab and Kashmir,
Sharif's native provinces.[43] His opponents argued that Sharif, as prime
minister, obtained permits for building factories for himself and his business.[36] Sharif is also blamed for expanding and
finance Armed Forces' secretive industrial conglomerate and,
is also blamed for bribing the generals to protected himself.[43]
After 1998, the oil consumption and product production dramatically fell
as it indicates above.
Sharif gave strong and vehement criticism to former Prime minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's socialist economics policies, as citing as
"lamentable state of Pakistan".[43] His privatisation policies were staunchly
criticised by former science advisor Dr. Mubashir Hassan, calling it Sharif's privatisation
"unconstitutional".[43] Other PPP members also stood the fact that
nationalisation measures were protected by the Parliament who
gave this policy a constitutional picture and status. The Peoples Party felt
the privatisation policies where illegal and taking place with out
parliamentary approval and parliament was not taken in confidence.[43]
By the end of the second term of Sharif government, the economy in a
turmoil that damaged 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 $32bn against reserves of little more than $1bn.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had suspended aid demanding the country
finances are sorted out. Sharif attempted to control the Stock Exchanges under
government's control, but that move backfired brutally on Sharif and by the
time Sharif was deposed, the country was heading for a financial default.
Science
policy
Sharif took steps for intense government control of science in Pakistan and
the projects needed his authorisation.[44] In 1991, 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 theJinnah Antarctic Station and
the Polar Research Cell. In
1992, Pakistan became an Associate Member of Scientific
Committee on Antarctic Research which
was signed by hisScience Adviser Munir Ahmed Khan at United Nations. As like Benazir, the
ongoing nuclear weapons and the energy program remained one of his top priority.[44] Sharif countered the international pressure,
and followed the same suit as Benazir's, and refused to make compromise to halt
the program despite the United States having offered a large economic aid to
Pakistan.[44] Unlike Benazir, Sharif's nuclear policy was
seen less aggressive towards India and focused the atomic programme for the
benefit of public usage and civil society. Unlike Benazir's nuclear policy, his
set forth nuclear policy was to built civil and peaceful nuclear power, and with
that vision, Sharif intensively used the integrated atomic programme for medical and
economic purposes. His nuclear policy was viewed by experts as vintage Atoms for Peace program— the United States' 1950s program to
use the nuclear energy for civil purposes, and to promote peaceful nuclear
technology in the world as well.
In 1993, 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, Sharif declared 1997 a year of
science in Pakistan, and personally allotted funds for the 22nd INSC College on
Theoretical Physics. In 1999, Sharif signed the executive decree, declaring the
day of 28 May as the National Science Day in Pakistan.
Atomic policy
On 7 November 1990, the newly elected prime minister announced his
nuclear policy and in public television, Sharif responded that: "The
peaceful [atomic] programme of which... it would be accelerated to accommodate
growing [nuclear] [e]nergy needs and to make up for rising [oil] prices. And,
of course, (Pakistan) will to construct new nuclear power plants."[45] On 26 November, Sharif authorised talks with
the U.S. to solve the nuclear crises after the U.S. had tightened its embargo
on Pakistan, prompting Sharif to send his government's Treasure Minister Sartaj Aziz to held talks on Washington.[45] It was widely reported in Pakistan that the U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State Teresita Schaffer had told the Foreign
Minister Shahabzada Yaqub Khan to
halt the uranium enrichment programme.[45]
In December, France's Commissariat à l'énergie
atomique agreed to provide a commercial 900MW power
plant, but plans did not materialise as France wanted Pakistan to provide entire
financial funds for the plant.[45] On December, the financial embargo was placed
and the country's economy felt a distress that prompted Sharif to replace his
Treasure minister.[45] Sharif then used Munir Ahmad Khan to have convinced IAEA to allow Pakistan for
a nuclear plant in Chashman where Khan intensively lobbied in IAEA for the
nuclear power plant.[45] In December 1990, IAEA allowed Pakistan to
established CHASNUPP-I, signed with China; the IAEA also
gave approval of upgrading of the KANUPP-Iin 1990.[45] During his first term, Sharif intensified his
non-nuclear weapon policy and strictly followed the policy of deliberate nuclear
ambiguity which was also continued by Benazir as well.[45] Responding to U.S. embargo, Sharif publicly
announced that: "Pakistan possessed no [atomic] bomb... Pakistan would be
happy to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)
but it must be provided "first" to India to do the same."[45]
Sharif intensified his move to enhance the Pakistan's integrated
nuclear development and authorised projects that seemed to be
important in his point of views.[44] Sharif also promoted the peaceful nuclear
energy programme, and signed the CHASNUPP-I reactor with People's Republic of
China for the commercial electricity use.[44] Sharif also responded to use the nuclear
development in more of economical usage, benefited for the country's economy
and its extension to the civil society.[44] His policies to make the nuclear program for
economical use was also continued by Benazir Bhutto and Pervez Musharraf.[44]
1992 Co-operatives societies scandal
Sharif also lost support from the Punjab Province and Kashmir Province
as well when the co-operatives societies scandal became public.[36] Co-operatives 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.[36] However, mismanagement of these societies led
to a collapse in which millions of Pakistanis lost money in 1992.[36] In Sharif’s native Punjab Province and the Kashmir Province, around 700,000 people mostly poor people
lost all their savings when the states cooperatives societies went bankrupt. It
was soon discovered that the society had granted billions of rupees to the Ittefaq Group of Industries— 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.[36]
1993 Constitutional Crises
In 1993, Sharif survived a serious constitutional crises when it was
reported that Sharif developed serious issues over the authority with another
national conservative president Ghulam Ishaq Khan.[46] Before 1993 Parliamentary election,
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan on 18 April 1993, with the support of the Pakistan Army, used his reserve powers (58-2b) (See 8th Amendment) to dissolve the National Assembly,
the lower house. Khan appointed Mir Balakh Scher as the
interim prime minister. When the news reached to Sharif, he forcefully rejected
to accept this act and moved to Supreme Court of Pakistan,
an apex court in Pakistan. In 26 May 1993, Sharif returned to power after the
Supreme Court ruled that the Presidential Order as unconstitutional and
reconstituted the National Assembly on its immediate effect. The Court ruled,
10–1, that the president could dissolve the assembly only if a constitutional
breakdown had occurred and that the government's incompetence or corruption was
irrelevant.[46]
End of First Term
However, issues with the president over the authority circled and a
subsequent political stand off was instigated between president and Prime
minister. Finally, on July 1993, Sharif resigned under pressure from the
Pakistan Armed Forces but negotiated a settlement that resulted in the removal
of president Ghulam Ishaq Khan as well. In July 1993, Chief of Army Staff
General Abdul Vahied Kakar and
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Shamim Allam forced president Ishaq Khan to resign from
the presidency and subsequently ended the political standoff. Under the close
scrutiny of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the new interim and transitional
government was formed and new parliamentary election were held after three
months.[46]
Parliamentary opposition (1993–96)
See also: Pakistani general election,
1993
New elections were held in the year of 1993 and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP),
under Benazir Bhutto, returned to power for the third time. Sharif conceded
defeat and offered his full co-operation as Leader of the
Opposition but soon the PPP and PML-N again came at
loggerheads in the Parliament. Benazir's
government found it difficult to act effectively in the face of opposition from
Sharif. Benazir Bhutto also faced problems with her younger brother, Murtaza Bhutto, in her stronghold, Sindh Province.[46]
Sharif joined with Benazir's younger brother Murtaza Bhutto and formed a
political axis that worked tirelessly to undermine Benazir Bhutto's government
and tapped an anti-corruption wave in entire Pakistan. The Nawaz-Bhutto axis
targeted the Benazir Bhutto's
government corruption in major state corporations and blamed Benazir's
government for slowing down the economic progress. In 1994 to 1995, Sharif with Murtaza Bhutto began a "Train March", a phenomenon
founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,
taking them from Karachi to Peshawar during which huge crowds listened to their
critical speeches. Sharif played a major part in organising labour and
industrial strikes throughout Pakistan in September and October 1994. following
the controversial death of Murtaza Bhutto in 1996, amid protests and spontaneous
demonstrations in Sindh Province had led the Benazir's government losing
control of the province. By 1996, Benazir Bhutto had become widely unpopular,
in entire Pakistan, because of her high levels of government corruption and
alleged involvement of her spouse role in her younger brother's death which led
to their ouster in October 1996.[46]
Second term as prime minister (1997–99)
U.S. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
By 1996, the national economy had come under intense situation and
deadlock, and an economic failure was soon near.[47] The continuous and large scale of government
corruption made by Benazir Bhutto and her appointed government ministers had
deteriorated the country's economy at the extreme level.[47] In the 1997 parliamentary elections,
Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) won a landslide victory in the
elections, defeating Benazir Bhutto and her People's party.[47] Commenting on his victory, the Pakistan media and the people of Pakistan hoped that Sharif
would provide a conservative but a stable government benefit for Pakistan as he
promised earlier.[47] Besides Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, no
other leader, in the history of Pakistan, has enjoyed his level of popularity,
and received theexclusive mandate from
all over the Pakistan to improve the all over conditions in Pakistan at same
time.[47] As commentary, 1997 election resulted to
boost Nawaz's popularity and was mandate onerous task to improve the country's
economy.[47] Nawaz defeated Benazir Bhutto with
overwhelmingly voting numbers and it was the worst defeat of Bhutto and
People's Party since its inception.[47] After the elections, Nawaz arrived in
Islamabad, where he met with large crowd of spontaneous and jubilant people
supporting for Nawaz; it took more than 13 hours for Nawaz Sharif to reach
Islamabad in order to take the oath.[47][48] Sharif was sworn as prime minister in the
early morning of on 17 February to serve a non-consecutive second term.[49] With the passing of the 14th amendment, Sharif emerged as the most powerful elected
prime minister in the country since its independence in
1947, and no other leader has enjoyed the his level of extreme popularity.[47]
Atomic policy
During the 1997 elections, Sharif promised to follow his policy of
nuclear ambiguity with the programme more benefited to people, and to use
nuclear energy to stimulate the power in the country.[50] However, on 17 September 1997, Sharif
acknowledged the fact that atomic bomb project which was started and
successfully concluded in 1978, his interview was taken by the STN News which
was broadcast in entire country before his state visit to United States. Sharif
maintained that:
The issue of [atomic] capability is an established fact. [H]ence the
debate on this [atomic] [i]ssue should come to an end.... Since 1972,
[P]akistan had progressed significantly, and we have left that stage
(developmental) far behind. Pakistan will not be made a "hostage" to
India by signing the CTBT, before (India).
On 1 December, after returning from United States, Sharif then told the Daily Jang and The News International that
Pakistan will immediately sign and become a party ofComprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) but, if and only if, India signed,
ratified and, becomes a part of CTBT first.[50]
Under his leadership, the nuclear program had become a vital part of
Pakistan's economical policy as the program had become back-bone of economy of
Pakistan in 1998.[44]
1998 nuclear tests
The executive authorisation of Pakistan's nuclear testing programme was
an important turning point in his political career that would bring his image
into world prominence.[9]
In his first term, 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, Sharif vowed that his country would give
a suitable reply to the Indians.[51] On 14 May, Leader of the
Opposition Benazir Bhutto and MQM publicly called for the nuclear tests
and the public calls for the nuclear test as well began to take place in
Pakistan.[52] 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, Sharif called and chaired a National
Security Council meeting in Prime minister Secretariat.[52] The Pakistan Armed Forces left the matter to
elected Prime minister, though Prime minister Sharif put the Pakistan Armed
Forces on high-alert.[52] The discussions went on for a few hours and
encompassed the financial, diplomatic, military, strategic and national
security concerns.[52] 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.
|
“
|
"Conduct
the explosion.!"
|
”
|
|
—Prime
minister Nawaz Sharif ordering Pakistan
Atomic Energy Commission to conduct Nuclear weapons tests,
1998, [9]
|
||
Sheikh Rasheed and
Raja Zafarul Haq, were the first people to propose the tests, while, Sartaj Aziz who was theTreasure 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 comes to
voting, the prime minister did not oppose or propose the tests. The remainder
spoke in favour of conducting the tests.[52]
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.[52] 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.[51] On the morning of 17 May 1998, Sharif
summoned Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and asked him for his opinion on two points discussed
on 15 May.[52] Ahmed told the prime minister that the
decision to test or not to test was that of the government of Pakistan.[52] Dr. Ahmad also acknowledged that PAEC was
ready for the capability of carrying out the tests.[52] 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.[52] Dr. 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 [g]uarantee of
success."[52] 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.[53] Prime minister Sharif, at first, was hesitant
towards the nuclear test program and its economical turn out if the tests are
ordered.[53] 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.[53]
On 18 May, Prime minister Sharif ordered PAEC to make preparation for
the tests, but remain on stand-by for the final decision.[52] In his own words, Sharif called dr. Ishfaq
Ahmad and ordered him, "Conduct the explosion!".[9] Simultaneously, Sharif's ordered, the XII Corps, Southern Naval Command, National Logistics Cell, and No. 6 SquadronGlobe Trotters were
put on high-alert to provide the necessary support to the PAEC in this regard.[9] On 21 May, Sharif issued orders to conduct
nuclear tests as a suitable reply to India, and authorised the nuclear weapon
testing program the same day.[53] A Boeing-737 airline from Pakistan International Airlines was
readily made available for PAEC scientists, engineers, and technicians to
Balochistan.[52]
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and scientists and engineers from KRL were also
told to be stay alert and were also sent to Balochistan along with PAEC.[52] 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.[54] When 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.[54]
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.[9][52] After these test, the Prime minister appeared
on Pakistan Television Corporation and
took the nation on 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 [w]orld, 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.
Economical effects of tests
See also: Effects of nuclear explosions
After weeks of anticipation, Pakistan surprised the world by conducting
its own nuclear tests.[52] Sharif's popularity in Pakistan increased.
While he was being hailed as nationalist, 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.[52]
Political effects of tests
Main article: Youm-e-Takbeer
In spite of the intense international criticism and the steady decline
in foreign investment and trade, these six nuclear tests were popular
domestically and the Sharif's popularity and the PML (N)'s prestige rose in
response.[52] After appearing on national television and
taking the nation of confidence, the tests were greeted with great jubilation
and large-scale approval of Sharif's decision by the civil society.[56] On 30 May, Sharif appeared after immediately
the tests, and informed the world, "Today, we have settled a score and have carried out six successful nuclear
tests".[9] Newspapers and television channels praised
Sharif and his government for its bold decision; editorials were full of praise
for the country's leadership and advocated the development of an operational nuclear
deterrence for the country, despite a small-scale
anti-nuclear sentiments criticised the nuclear testings which was forcefully
silenced by the emerging public opinion favouring Sharif and the nuclear tests.[56] Soon after the atomic tests on 1515hrs (28
May) and 1315hrs (30 May), Sharif immediately called for a joint-parliamentary
session at Parliament House Building on emergency basis calling all of the
public legislators to the Parliament from the entire country to gather at the
Parliament, where Sharif would take the parliament on confidence after
presenting a short speech.[55]
|
“
|
Today, we
have settled a score and
have carried out six successful nuclear tests"
|
”
|
On the day of atomic testing, the military and public policy makers,
lawmakers and legislators, senior journalists, and the influential members of
the civil society at the Parliament strongly chaired for the tests, loud
slogans and songs of "Pakistan Zindabad" (long
live Pakistan) were sung, and the tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was heavily
paid by the parliamentarians from all political parties of Pakistan.[52] The parliamentarians and the Leader of the
Opposition Benazir Bhutto had also congratulated prime minister Nawaz Sharif
and the Pakistan Armed Forces thanking for making its "bold decision"
in spite of whatever the economical outcomes were.[55] Political scientist and geostrategist Javed Hashmi was clearly heard saying: "Yes! Yes!....
We have done it.", while he was tapping his parliament desk. The Peoples
Party also chaired this moment when Ameen Faheem was heard saying: "We gave the same
medicines to [Indians].". On its effects on India, the politicians in Indian parliament erupted into shouting as opposition leaders
blamed the government for starting a nuclear arms race.[9]
The Pakistan Academy of Sciences also
thanked Sharif and his government for having been given the opportunity to
prove their capabilities.[56] As in return, Sharif established the National Center for Theoretical
Physics (NCTP) and inaugurated the Abdus Salam Museum
in 1999.[56] According to Benazir Bhutto who calculated her rival's level of political
popularity after ordering the tests asserted, that these tests had erased the
existed doubts and fear from the minds of people of Pakistan who questioned
Pakistan's deterrence capability after 1971 collapse.[57] Even as of today, Sharif and his party takes
all the credit for authorising these tests, and annually held celebrating
public functions in all over the country. Without any doubts, Sharif posed to
became Pakistan's most favourable and strongest Prime minister since 1974, and
the political prestige of Nawaz Sharif was at its peak point at the time when
the country had gone nuclear.[56]
The nuclear tests remained highly popular in Pakistan which many in
Pakistan saw as dignified status for the Pakistan in the world community.
Despite disagreement with Sharif, his rivals and opposition parties backed
Sharif and congratulated him for his "bold decision".[55]
Sharif was awarded an Ig Nobel prize for his "aggressively peaceful
explosions of atomic bombs".[58]
Space programme
Due to economic distress, Sharif halted the national space programme,
and refused to allot any funds due to his government was struggling to provide
funds for more extended programmes. Unlike Benazir who continued the space
programme despite economic slow down, the Space Research
Commission was forced to delay the launch of its
well-developed satellite, Badr-II(B) which
was completed in 1997. Delaying the satellite's launch caused frustration of
the scientific community who openly criticised Prime minister's inability to
promote science in the country. Senior scientists and engineers attributed this
failure as "Sharif's personal corruption" that effected the national
security of the country. It was not until 2001, two years since Sharif was
dismissed; the satellite was finally launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome 10
December 2001 at 0915hrs by Space Research
Commission.
Foreign
policy
See also: Pakistan -
European Union relations, Pakistan-Turkey relations, Pakistan-Iran relations, Pakistan-South Korea relations, Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations andPakistan - Israeli relations
Sharif strengthened relations with Muslim world, Turkey, and Europe.[59] The year he was elected, Sharif made a state
visit to Malaysia and Singapore where Sharif succeeded to
signed an economic and free trade agreements with both countries.[59] It was a trilateral trade bloc in South Asia
and Premiers of Singapore, Malaysia, and Pakistan had successfully signed the
agreement.[59] Following the agreement, the work on
comprehensive frame work to enhance collaboration in defence, economic and
private sector was launched and completed in 1998.[59] One of the core issue was the Malaysia's
agreement on sharing its space technology to Pakistan.[59] Both Malaysia and Singapore assured their
support for Pakistan to join Asia–Europe Meeting.[59] However, it was not until 2008, Pakistan and
India became part of the treaty.[59]
Sharif in Washington D.C. withWilliam S. Cohen in
1998.
On January 1998, Prime Minister Sharif paid a state visit to South Korea, where he successfully signed the bilateral and
economical agreements with South Korean President Kim Young-sam.[59] 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.[59] On April 1998, Sharif went on to visit Italy,
Germany,Poland, and Belgium to
promote economic ties.[59] He said in Brussels at an official reception,
"We [Pakistan] [s]eek understanding and cooperation with Europe".[59] 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.[59] In February 1997, the prime minister had
meeting with Jiang Zemin, the Chinese
president and Li Peng, the Premier, for economic
cooperation.[59] Two conferences were specially organised in
Beijing and Hong Kong to promote Chinese investment in Pakistan.[59]
However, Sharif's effort seemed to be wasted when Sharif ordered the
nuclear tests in 1998. Following these tests, the Foreign policy of Pakistan
was much in trouble position since its 1971 disaster.[59] Pakistan, at United Nations, failed to gather
any support from its allies.[59]Trade agreements were
abrogated by Europe, United States, and Asian bloc.[59] While, Sharif was praised to carried out
tests domestically. Sharif was heavily criticised for ordering internationally.[59] 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.[59] On 7 June 1998, Sharif went to visit UAE for
talks on the situation in South Asia after nuclear tests in the region.[59] He thanked the Government for their support
after India conducted five nuclear tests on 11 and 13 May.[59] The major shift in his conservative foreign
policy was notice on 11 June 1998, when Nawaz Sharif authorised a secret
meeting of Pakistan Ambassador to United Nations Inam-ul-Haq and Pakistan
Ambassador to the United States Dr. Maliha Lodhi, to chair a meeting with their Israeli
counterparts, the Israel Ambassador to the United States Eliyahu Ben-Elissar and
the Israel Ambassador to United Nations Dore Gold, at a seven star hotel in New York, United States.[50] The Prime minister sent a secret courier to
Israel and to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu (now
current Prime minister), though his diplomats, where Pakistan assured Israel
that Pakistan will not transfer nuclear technology or materials to Iran or to
other Middle Eastern countries.[50] On June 1998, Israel had directed a secret
courier to Pakistan that Israeli officials had feared that Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi's visit to Pakistan shortly after its May 1998
nuclear weapons tests was a sign that Pakistan was preparing to sell nuclear
technology to Iran.[50]
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.[60]
Since both countries had ordered their nuclear tests, both prime
ministers proceeded towards maintaining peace and security.[61] 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.[61]On 1 February 1999,
Prime minister 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 major Pakistan's cultural city of Lahore,
establishing a major transport link for the peoples of both nations.[61] On 21 February, both Prime ministers signed
the bilateral agreement with a memorandum of understanding to
ensure the nuclear-free safety in South Asia.[61] 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.[61] 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.[61] To some Western observers, this treaty was
more like as of SALT Treaties signed
by both superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States.[62] On July 2012, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said here on Wednesday night that there was no US
apology on the killing of Pakistani soldiers and he would join the protest
against the reopening of Nato supplies.[63] In October 2013 Navaz Sharif had an official
meeting with US President Barack Obama at White House to discuss Pakistani's
atomic issues.[64]
Constitutional
amendment
Main articles: Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan and Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan
In late August 1998, he proposed a law to establish a legal system based
on the Islamic principles.[65] His proposal came a week after the 10-year
commemorations of the late president Zia ul-Haq. The Cabinet removed some of its controversial
aspects.[66][67] The National Assembly approved and passed the
bill on 10 October 1998 by 151 votes to 16.[68] With majority in Parliament, Sharif drove
Pakistan's political system more onto parliamentary system,
reverting the previous semi-presidential system and
laws fondly enjoyed by president.[68] With passing these amendments, Sharif became
the strongest prime minister that the country has ever seen since its
independence.[68] However, these amendments failed to achieve a
two-thirds majority in the Senate, which was still under control of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Weeks afterward, Sharif's government would suffer a military coup, therefore
these amendments went to cold storage[clarification
needed] after Pervez Musharraf replaced them with his 2002 LFO, putting
back the country to semi-presidential system. However, in 2010, Pakistan's
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.
Issues with
judiciary
During his second term, Sharif mounted problems with the Supreme Court— an apex
judicial authority. Sharif's Fourteenth Amendment had prohibited legislators and lawmakers from
dissenting or voting against their own parties.[69] 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.[69] When legislators of different parties took
the case Supreme Court, Sharif was furious and frustrated with the actions of
the Supreme Court.[69] Sharif openly criticized Chief Justice Sajad Alishah, inviting a
notice of contempt.[69] After the military and the president reached
to Sharif to avoid a constitution crises, Sharif agreed the solve the issue
amicably, but was determined to out Chief Justice Sajad Alishah.[69]
Sharif manipulated the ranks of senior judges, deposing two judges close
to Chief Justice.[69] The deposed judges challenged Sharif's orders
on procedural grounds by filing a petition at Quetta High Court on 26 November 1997.[69] The Chief Justice was restrained by his
fellow judges from adjudicating in the case against the Prime minister.[69] On 28 November, Sharif as Prime minister
appeared in the Supreme Court where he justified his actions calling it
constitutional, and citing evidences that were obtained by Sharif at the Quetta
High Court junior judges against the two judges Sharif had deposed.[69] After looking at the evidences, Chief Justice
Sajad Ali Shah suspended the decision of Quetta High Court, but soon the Peshawar High Court issued
similar order removing Chief Justice's closest judges.[69] The Associate Chief Justice of Peshawar High
Court, JusticeSaeeduzzaman Siddiqui declared
himself as acting Chief Justice.[69]
Attack on Supreme Court
Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah, however, continued to assert his authority
and persisted in hearing Sharif's case.[69] On 30 November 1997, while the hearing was in
progress, Sharif's cabinet ministers and a large number of his supporters
entered the Supreme Court building, disrupting the proceedings.[69] The chief justice asked the military to send
the military police, and subsequently struck down the Thirteenth (XIII) Amendment thereby
restoring the power of the president.[69] But, this move backed fired on the chief
justice when the military backed the prime minister and refused to obey the
president's orders to remove Sharif.[69] The prime minister forced President Farooq Leghari to resign, and appointed Wasim Sajjad as acting president.[69] After the president's removal, Sharif ousted
Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah to end the constitutional crisis once and for all.[69]
2006 formal apology
On 29 November 2006, Nawaz Sharif and the member of his party issued a
public apology to former Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and the former president
Farooq Leghari for their actions.[70] His party's member paid a farewell visit to
the residence of Chief Justice Ali Shah where they presented a written apology
to him; later in Parliament, his party issued white paper formally apologising for their wrongdoing in
1997.[71]
Policy
on anti-terrorism
During Benazir Bhutto's period, the country suffered the terrorist attack on Egyptian Embassy
in Islamabad that led to the rift between relationship Pakistan
and Egypt. He took initiatives against terrorism when on 17 August 1997, he
passed the controversial Anti-Terrorist Act which
established Anti-Terrorism Courts.[47] The Supreme Court later rendered the Act
unconstitutional. However, Sharif made few amendments, and received the
permission of the Supreme Court to establish these courts.[47] It were the Anti-Terrorism Courts that were
used by General Pervez Musharraf to prosecute Nawaz Sharif in an alleged
terrorism/hijacking case in 1999.
Relations with the military
Main articles: Civil war in
Afghanistan (1996–2001), Indo-Pakistani War of 1999, Atlantique Incident and Civil-military relations
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif in
the White House, 1998.
the White House, 1998.
From the 1981 until the military coup against him in 1999, Sharif
enjoyed a 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.[17] Sharif pressed his tough rhetoric actions and
repeatedly violates the constitution as well as the military code of conduct.
He later had severe political confrontation with in 1999 when he tried
to replace General Musharraf with generals loyal to him that resulted in a coup d'état which
removed him from office.[17] At the end of General Wahied Kakar's three-year term in January 1996, GeneralJehangir Karamat was appointed Chief of Army Staff of
Pakistan Army.[17] His term was due to end on 9 January 1999.[17] However, in October 1998 Sharif had a falling
out with General Karamat over the latter’s advocacy of a "National
Security Council".[17] Sharif interpreted this move to be a
conspiracy to return the military to a more active role in Pakistan politics.[17]
In 1999, after Sharif's removal, the National Security Council was indeed
established by his successor.[17] In October 1998, General Karamat resigned and
Sharif promoted Lieutenant-General Pervez Musharraf, then core-commander of the I Strike Corps that time, as 4-star general and appointed
him as new Chief of Army Staff.[17] Sharif then also appointed General Musharraf
as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee despite
Musharraf's lack of seniority to Admiral Bokhari.[17] In protest, Admiral Fasih Bokhari resigned
from his post as Chief of Naval Staff.[17]
Dismissal of General Jehangir Karamat
Main article: Dismissal of
General Jehangir Karamat
However, political scientists and critics who studied his policies noted
that as Prime minister, Sharif ruthlessly established his control all over the
country, including the military.[72]In October 1998, Sharif
forced and fired General Karamat over the serious issues on National
Security Council disputes.[17] The dismissal of General Karamat was least
popular decision in Sharif's prime ministerial ship, and his approval ratings
plummeted.[72] Military lawyers and civilian law experts saw
this step as clear "violation" of Pakistan Constitutionand
as clear violation of military justice code.[72] Media Minister Syed Mushahid Hussain and
later Prime minister himself justified his actions on national and
international media:
In a democratic society, would a Chief of Army Staff and chairman Joint
Chiefs talk about the Government like that? What happened to General MacArthur? Mr.Harry Truman did not waste much time.
Pakistan is finally becoming a normal democratic society.
Political scientist Dr. Samina Ahmed of Defence and Strategic Studies Department noted
that since his re-elect in 1997 and success of passing the constitutional
amendments, Prime minister Sharif began to abuse his powers since then.[73] She later quoted that:
During his time, Sharif was a very powerful prime minister.... since the
country's independence. Power is tangible when you can exercise it. In
Pakistan, the (Nawaz) Government doesn't seem capable of exercising it.
The relieve of General Karamat was a heated issue discussed even by his
senior government ministers.[74] The most-senior and the former Treasury
minister Sartaj Aziz gave vehement criticism and showed opposition
to the Prime minister for making this move.[74] Writing a thesis in his book, Between Dreams and Realities: Some Milestones in Pakistan’s History, Aziz maintained: "Blunder of firing of General Karamatt; others
will blame Nawaz Sharif for many mistakes he made. But in my view, the most
serious of these mistakes was Nawaz Sharif’s decision to remove General
Jehangir Karamat as chief of army staff in October 1998". Aziz was
extremely confident and certain that Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Ali Kuli Khan would be appointed as the Chief of Army Staff
based on his seniority, merit, among a very competent officer, and next in
seniority to General Karamat.[74]
|
“
|
It came to
the conclusion that in relieving General Jehangir Karamat, Prime minister
Sharif had committed a "blunder". He also failed to recognize that
despite his heavy mandate, it was not advisable for him to dismiss two army
chiefs in less than a year. In doing so he had overplayed his hands and
effectively derailed the democratic process for nine long years...
|
”
|
However, after being persuaded by his younger brother and then (also as
of current) Chief minister of Punjab
Province Shahbaz Sharif and his close friend Nisar Ali Khan, to appoint General Musharraf as the next Chief
of Army Staff, despite his lack of seniority. This came to shock in the media
and the opposition, Aziz sent his recommendation to appoint either Lieutenant-General Ali Kuli Khan or Admiral Fasih Bokhari as the Chairman Joint
Chiefs of Staff Committee, to redress the injustice done to both
officers.[74]
Prime minister Sharif took the recommendation but appointed General
Musharraf as Chairman of Joint Chiefs after accepting the request of Shahbaz Sharif. Appointing General Musharraf as Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs, plummeted his mandate in the public after headlines in the media were made, opposition also gave intense
criticism to Sharif that he was unable to effectively countered or justified
his actions to the public. His senior minister, Sartaj Aziz, also expressed
displeased after marking that: Sharif "committed a blunder, failing to
recognize that despite hisheavy mandate, it was not
advisable for him to dismiss (two) army chiefs in less than a year. In doing so
Sharif had made a serious of these blunders after relieving [General] Karamatt,
but yet, (an) unforgettable mistake that he would never be able to cover the
damage afterwords...", Sartaj Aziz noted.[74]
After Sharif approved the controversial appointment of General Musharraf
to chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee,
the pillars of silent hostility and resentment were built between chief of naval staff Admiral Fasih Bokhari during the Kargil war, which Admiral Bokhari gave rogue and grave
criticism the Prime minister yet faced.[75] On 6 October 1999, Admiral Bokhari abruptly
resigned from the navy when the televised media news reached to him that prime minister Nawaz
Sharif appointed the chief of army staff General Pervez Musharraf as chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.[76] Bokhari reached to Prime minister Secretariat
and lodged a loud protest against Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif as Bokhari
considered Musharraf as much junior officer to him.[76] Admiral's resignation was made public domain
and Sharif accepted the resignation of Admiral Bokhari onwards.[76]
Confrontation with the military
The year of 1999 brought a tremendous political upheavals and dramatic
changes in Pakistan as well as for the Prime minister.[17] Despite Sharif tremendous approval in 1998,
Sharif's popularity graph gradually went down after he announced the emergency in Pakistan, a decision which dismayed the
people of Pakistan.[17] Sharif's popularity was also undermined when
Pakistan became involved with unpopular and undeclared war with India in
Northern front.[17] This undeclared war was fought on the
northern fronts of Indiaand Pakistan, one of world's coldest and highest points.[17] Intensified criticism of this plan began to
take place in Pakistan's private media, and General Musharraf took the whole
matter to the media, and held the prime minister responsible for this
misadventure.[17] Confrontation with military began sometime in
1999, starting first with Admiral Fasih Bokhari, CNS.[77] Tension arisen between the Prime minister and
the Admiral in 1999 when Admiral Bokhari lodged a powerful protest against the
Kargil debacle and called for court-martial of Pervez Musharraf in private
television channels.[71]
During the Kargil War in 1999, Sharif claimed to have no knowledge
of the planned attacks, saying that Pervez Musharraf acted alone.[78] In 2008, Lieutenant-General (retired)Jamshed Gulzar Kiani— at
that time Kiani was Major-general and served as the Director-General of the Military Intelligence—
also publicly confirmed Sharif's statement of not having the knowledge on
Kargil debacle.[79] According to Major-General Kiani, General
Musharraf had eye-blinded the Prime minister and did not brief him over the
true facts or difficult situation which was faced by the Pakistan Army.[79] During the Kargil debacle, the Indian Air Force's two MiG-29 intercepted the Pakistan Air Force's two F-16 fighter
jets of the No. 9 Squadron Griffins, initially gaining a missile lock on these jets.[80] This dogfight made a next-day morning headlines in
Pakistan, prompting the prime minister to investigate the matter. However, Chief of Air Staff General Pervez Mehdi denied
this incident, later accused the Prime minister for not taking the Air Force in
confidence in the matters of national security.[81]
Sharif's part-time taking control of stock exchange markets had
devastating effects on Pakistan's economy, a move he instigated after the tests
to control the economy.[79]Sharif's policies were
widely disapproved by the people and at the mid of 1999, and Sharif's own
popularity was mixed with few approved his policies.[79]
The year of 1999, Sharif's government also declined to accept the bodies
of young paramilitary and
army soldiers who unknowingly went onto participate in secret war in Western front against
the Northern Alliance.[82] This decision sparked the wide spread of
demonstration and protests against Sharif's government in Western Pakistan, which
forced Sharif to accept the bodies.[82] Following this incident, Sharif tried to
intervene in this matter and tried to stop the Army's support to Taliban.[83] However, then-Chief of Army Staff General
Pervez Musharraf had stopped Sharif and called Taliban as Pakistan's most
valuable assets.[83]
In August 1999 two Indian Air Force MiG-21FL aircraft shot down a Pakistan Navy Breguet Atlantique reconnaissance
aircraft near the Rann of Kutch in India, killing 16 naval officers,[84] the greatest number of combat-related
casualties for the navy since the Indo-Pakistani Naval War of
1971[84] Already suffering from public disapproval and
bad popularity, this incident came at a particularly bad juncture for the Prime
Minister, already under attack from politicians and civil society for ordering
a withdrawal of its troops from Kargil.[84] Sharif failed to gather any foreign support
against India after this incident, and the navy saw this failure as Sharif's
not supporting the navy in wartime.[84] Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza turned against the Prime minister, and Sharif
soon faced a new cold war with the newly appointed Admiral who had assumed
charge of the navy only a few days before.[84] The Prime minister dispatched units of Marines in the vicinity to retrieve the downed
aircraft's pilots, but the Marines also turned their back on the Prime minister
due to his failure to defend the Navy at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
in September 1999.[84] Relations with the Air Force also
deteriorated in a matter of months, when Chief of Air Staff General Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi accused
the Prime minister of not taking the Air Force into his confidence in matters
critical to national security.[81][84]
Two months later, after escalating the tug of war with the Armed Forces, Sharif was deposed by
General Pervez Musharraf, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee andChief of Army Staff,
and martial law was established throughout the country.[84]
Military coup
Further information: 1999 Pakistani coup d'état
The simultaneous of conflicts in North with India and West with Afghanistan as well as the economical turmoil, Sharif's
credibility was undermined and destroyed as the public opinion turned against
him and his policies. On 12 October 1999, Prime minister Sharif attempted to
remove Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Chief of Army Staff General Pervez
Musharraf as Sharif saw the General as responsible for his failure, and appoint
General Ziauddin Butt in his
place.
Musharraf, who was in Sri Lanka, attempted to return through a PIA commercial flight
to return to Pakistan after he learned the news. Sharif ordered civilian Inspector-General ofSindh Police Force Rana Maqbool to arrest of Chief of Army Staff
and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Musharraf.
Sharif ordered the Jinnah Terminal to be sealed off to prevent the landing of
the Musharraf's airliner fearing a coup d'état. However, the Captain of the
A300 aircraft requesteded refuelling; therefore, Sharif ordered the plane to
land at Nawabshah Airport, today
called as Shaheed Benazirabad Airport.
Meanwhile in Nawabshah Airport, Musharraf contacted top Pakistan Army Generals
who then took over the country and ousted Sharif's administration. Musharraf
later assumed control of the government as chief executive. Initially, the
prime minister's mindset was to remove the chairman Joint Chiefs and the Chief
of Army Staff first, then deposed the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air
Staff, who had played the role destroying the credibility of prime minister.
Hence, it was a move to deposed the senior military leadership of the Pakistan
Armed Forces, that brutally backfired on the Prime minister.[85]
No protest and demonstration were held in Pakistan in support of Sharif.
Many of Sharif's cabinet ministers and his constituents were divided during the
court proceedings, remained neutral and did not back the Prime minister.
Dissidents such as Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and
among others remained quiet and later formed Pakistan Muslim League (Q),
further breaking his party into small pieces. The military police initiated
massive arrests of Pakistan Muslim League's workers and the leaders of the
parties. In Punjab and Sindh Provinces, the prisoners were held in Sindh and
Punjab Police Prisons. Sharif was taken to Adiala Jail where a court trial
headed by Military judge was set to began.[85]
Trial of the Prime minister
Main article: Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations
The military placed him on military trial for "kidnapping,
attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism and corruption".[86][87] The military court quickly convicted him in a
speedy trial and gave him a life sentence.[87] Report began to surface that the military
court was near to give Sharif a death sentence, previously had done by the
military court in the trial ofZulfikar Ali Bhutto.[86] Sharif was placed in Adiala Jail, infamous for hosting Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's trial,
and his leading defence lawyer, Iqbal Raad, was gunned down in Karachi in mid-March.[88] Sharif's defence team blamed the military for
intentionally providing their lawyers with inadequate protection.[88] The military court proceedings were widely
accused of being a show trial.[89][90][91] Sources from Pakistan claimed that Musharraf
and his military government's officers were in full mood to exercise tough
conditions on Sharif[92] 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 Sharif to death.[92] Sharif was also set face a case of
"corruption", and received a 14 years life imprisonment additional.
Sharif also forced to pay US$400,000. The case centered on a civilian
helicopter, which he said to have owned during the mid-1990s.[93]
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.[92]Pakistan, under Nawaz
Sharif and Saudi Arabia, under King Fahd, enjoyed extremely close business and
cultural relations that is sometimes attributed as special
relationships.[92]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 Sharif.[92] 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 the 1980s.[92] Under an agreement facilitated by Saudi
Arabia, Sharif was placed in exile for the next 10 years and through the Saudi Arabian Airlines.[92] Mr Sharif has agreed not to take part in
politics in Pakistan for 21 years. He has also forfeited property worth $8.3m
(£5.7m) and agreed to pay a fine of $500,000[94] Sharif travelled to Jeddahwhere
he was received by the Saudi officials and taken to a residence managed and
controlled by Saudi Government.[92] At Jaddah, the Saudi Arabian government gave
Sharif a loan to established a steel mill and Sharif bought a land where he
went on to established the iron-steel mill foundry that is worth millions of
dollars.[92] During this episode of military coup, General
Musharraf wrote in his memoirs that,
thanks to Saudi Arabia and King Fahd, Sharif's life was spared by the military
court otherwise Sharif would have met the same fate as of
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979.[95]
1999 tax evasion scandal
The prosecution accused Sharif of evading federal tax on the purchase of
a helicopter worth U.S. $1 million. Sharif denied this allegation. The Lahore High Court agreed to acquit him of this charge
conditional on whether he was able to present evidence that proved his
innocence. Sharif failed to cite any substantial evidence. The Lahore High
Court ordered Sharif to pay a fine of U.S. $400,000 on grounds of tax evasion,
and was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.[93]
Return to Pakistan
Failed attempt in Islamabad
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.[96][97]
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 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 Sharif would continue with
the agreement.[98]
On 10 September 2007, Sharif returned from exile in London[98] to Islamabad. He was prevented from leaving the plane and he was
deported to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia within hours.[99] His political career appeared to be over.[49]
Successful return in Lahore
On 20 November 2007, Musharraf went to Saudi Arabia as he left the
country for the first time since implementing emergency rule.[100] He attempted to convince Saudi Arabia to
prevent Sharif from returning until after the elections in January 2008.[100] The political role of Sharif returned to the
fore after Benazir Bhutto's return a
month earlier.[100] 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.[100]
On 25 November 2007, Sharif returned to Pakistan. Thousands of
supporters whistled and cheered as they hoisted Sharif and his brother on their
shoulders through ranks of wary riot police officers.[101] After an 11-hour procession from the airport,
he reached a mosque where he offered prayers as well as criticism against
Musharraf.[102]
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.[101]
2008
General elections
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. 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.[103]
For the elections, he campaigned for the restoration of the independent
judges removed by emergency government decree and Musharraf's departure.[104][105]
Bhutto's assassination led to the postponement of the elections to 18
February 2008.[106] During the elections, both parties, but the
Pakistan Peoples 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.[106] Sharif condemned Bhutto's assassination and
called it the "gloomiest day in Pakistan's history".[107]
Between Bhutto's assassination and the elections, the country faced a
rise in attacks by militants.[108] Sharif accused Musharraf of ordering
anti-terror operations that have left the country "drowned in blood."[108] Pakistan's government urged opposition
leaders to refrain from holding rallies ahead of the elections, citing an
escalating terrorist threat.[108]Sharif's party quickly
rejected the recommendation, accusing officials of trying block the campaign
against Musharraf since large rallies have traditionally been the main way to
drum up support in election campaigns.[108]
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.[109]
Zardari's Pakistan People's Party, boosted by the death of Benazir
Bhutto, and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N dominated the elections. PPP
received 86 seats for the 342-seat National Assembly; the PML-N, 66; and the
PML-Q, which backs president Pervez Musharraf, 40.[110] Zardari and Sharif would later create a
coalition government that ousted Musharraf.
In opposition (2008–2013)
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.[111] Sharif won much public support for his
uncompromising stand against Musharraf and for his insistence the judges be
reinstated.[111] 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 Sharif of a
criminal record rendering him eligible to re-enter parliament.[112]
By-elections
In June 2008 by-elections, Sharif's party won 91 National Assembly seats
and 180 provincial assembly seats in the Punjab.[113] The Lahore seat election was postponed
because of wrangling over whether Sharif was eligible to contest.[111][114]
Musharraf
impeachment
Main article: Movement to
impeach Pervez Musharraf
Nawaz Sharif with Hillary Clinton in 2010.
On 7 August 2008, the coalition government agreed to impeach Musharraf.
Zardari and Sharif sent a formal request for him to step down. A charge-sheet
had been drafted, and was to be presented to parliament.[115] It included Mr Musharraf’s first seizure of
power in 1999—at the expense of Nawaz Sharif, the PML(N)’s leader, whom Mr
Musharraf imprisoned and exiled—and his second last November, when he declared
an emergency as a means to get re-elected president.[116] The charge-sheet also listed some of Mr
Musharraf’s contributions to the "war on terror".[116]
On 11 August, the National Assembly was summoned to discuss impeachment
proceedings.[117] On 18 August 2008, Musharraf resigned as
President of Pakistan due to mounting political pressure from the impeachment
proceedings. On 19 August 2008, Musharraf defended his nine-year rule in an
hour-long speech.[118]
Musharraf is presently exiled to London and Sharif continues to demand
he be prosecuted for treason.[119]
Nawaz Sharif claimed that former dictator Pervez Musharraf are
responsible for the current crisis the nation is facing now. "Musharraf
pushed the country’s economy 20 years back after imposing martial law in the
country and ousting the democratic government," he said.[120]
Presidential
election
Main article: Pakistani
presidential election, 2008
The Election Commission on 22
August announced that Presidential elections would be held on 6 September 2008,
and the nomination papers could be filed starting 26 August.[121] In Pakistan, the president is elected by the
two houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies, all acted as the Electoral College.
There was speculation that Sharif would run for president, but on 25 August, he
announced that former Supreme Court Judge and former Chief Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui would
be the PML-N nominee for Presidency.[122] During this election, Justice Siddiqui was
defeated by Zardari for the presidency.
Lawyers
Movement
Main article: Suspension of
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
Sharif and Zardari supported the reinstatement of judges suspended by
Musharraf in March 2007. Musharraf had dismissed 60 judges under the state of
emergency and Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in a failed bid to remain in
power.[116] Sharif had championed the cause of the judges
since their dismissal.[33] The new government that succeeded Musharraf
which had campaigned on reinstatement had failed to restore the judges . This
led to a collapse of the coalition government in late 2008 due to Zardari’s
erstwhile refusal to reinstate the sacked judge.[33] Zardari feared that Chaudhry would undo all
Mr Musharraf’s edicts—including an amnesty that he had received from corruption
charges.[33]
Long March lead by Nawaz Sharif moving through Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
On 25 February 2009, the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif and
Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of the Punjab, from holding public office.
Zardari then dismissed the provincial legislature and declared president’s Rule
in the Punjab.[33] Lawyers and citizen's groups in Pakistan,
civil activists, and a coalition of political parties were planning to take to
the streets in a protest march that started on 13 March 2009.[123] Zardari attempted to place Sharif under house
arrest on 15 March 2009,[33] but provincial police disappeared the same
day from his house after an angry crowd gathered outside. The Punjab Police
decision to free Sharif from confinement was very likely in response to an army
command.[33] Sharif, with a large contingent of SUVs,
began leading a march to Islamabad but ended the march inGujranwala.[33] In a televised morning speech on 16 March
2009, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani promised to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry after
pressure from Pakistan’s army, American and British envoys, and internal
protests. PPP also made a secret agreement to restore the PML(N) government in
the Punjab. Sharif then called off the "long march".[33] The PPP-led government continued to survive.
A Senior PML(N) leader had said "95% of the members of the PML(N) were
against becoming part of the lawyers’ movement, but after theSC verdict,
the PML(N) had no other choice but to opt to support this movement. "[124]
Removal of bar on third term
On 2 April 2010, the 18th Amendment Bill in the Parliament removed the bar on former
prime ministers to stand for only two terms in office. This allows Sharif to
become prime minister for a third time.[125]
2013 Pakistan general election
Main article: Pakistani general election,
2013
Further information: Sharif III Government
Khan–Sharif rivalry
Between 2011 and 2013, Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif began to engage each other
in a bitter feud. The rivalry between the two leaders grew in late 2011 when
Imran Khan addressed his largest crowd at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. The two began to blame each other
for many political reasons.[126]
From 26 April 2013, in the run up to the elections, both the PML-N and
the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
started to criticize each other like never before. In the run up to the
elections, Imran Khan challenged Sharif for a live television debate. Sharif immediately rebuffed the offer.[127] However, during the confrontations, Khan was
accused of personally attacking Sharif and as a result, the Election Commission of Pakistan gave notice
to Khan because political candidates should refrain from personal attacks on
others. Khan denied he was launching personal attacks on Sharif.[128][129] On 18 August 2014, Khan announced his party
would renounce all its seats it won in the 2013 elections, claiming the
elections were rigged, a claim he had made before. He accused Sharif of
plundering the national wealth, and demanded his resignation. He called on the
public to withhold taxes and payment of utility bills to force the government
to resign.[130] On 22 August 2014 Khan and his fellow 33 PTI
lawmakers resigned from the national assembly.
He called for a caretaker government to be formed composing non-political
people, and for fresh elections.[131]
Policies
As the elections drew near, Nawaz Sharif held dozens of rallies across
Pakistan. Sharif promised, if elected to power, that he will end loadshedding, construct more motorwaysand also
begin construction of high-speed rail which will carry Shinkansen-style bullet trains which will stretch from Peshawar to Karachi.[132] He also promised to construct a third port in Keti Bandar on the southern cost of Thatta District.[133] Just prior to his election victory, Sharif
confirmed he had a long phone conversation with Indian prime ministerManmohan Singh, in a hint at a desire to improve relations
between the two countries.[134]
2013
Election Results
Nawaz Sharif taking oath with newly elected members of National Assembly
in 2013.
On 11 May 2013, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) won
126 seats in the National Assembly.
This was met with surprise by many political experts. He claimed a clinching
victory, mainly in the Punjab. Sharif, in his victory speech on the night of the
election said: "Through this vote and campaign I have felt how much love
Pakistan has for me. And I have twice as much love for you. Thank God that he
has given us the chance to help you, to help Pakistan, to help the young
people. We will fulfill all the promises that we have made. Pray that we can
make a government on our own, without compromises or have to lean on anyone
else. Because if we have to ask for seats, we cannot make a strong government.
We forgive anyone who has abused us along the way and we have not cursed
anyone. We want to get Pakistan out of trouble. We have a program to change the
state of Pakistan. We must make a decision to change this country. To all other
parties, I say come and sit at the table."[135]
Even before the result was announced, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
conceded victory.[136] PTI leader Imran Khan congratulated Sharif on
his victory in the elections.[137]
After most of the results were counted, the ECP announced
that the PML-N had 124 seats in Parliament. Because the
Pakistan Muslim League (N) were 13 seats short of a 137-majority, Sharif had to
form a coalition. Therefore, he began to hold talks with Independent candidates who
were elected to Parliament. Sharif said he wanted to avoid having to form a
coalition so as to have the strong government Pakistan needs at the present
time, but because he was 13 seats short, he had to form a coalition.[138]
On 19 May 2013, it was reported that Nawaz Sharif had secured a majority
in Pakistan's national assembly after 18 independent candidates joined the
party, allowing it to form government in the National Assembly without striking
an alliance with any other party. The minimum needed was 13 independent
candidates, but Sharif had managed to make an alliance with 5 more candidates,
giving the PML-N a coalition government of 142 seats.[12] After the coalition was announced, Nawaz
Sharif stated that he wanted to take his oath as Prime Minister on 28 May, the
15th anniversary of when he ordered Pakistan's first nuclear tests in 1998.[139]
On 27 June 2014, PTI's chairman Imran Khan announced that they would go for a long
march—naming it "Azadi March"—from 14 August against the government
alleging that the 2013 elections were rigged. Khan claimed that he will gather
more than million people in the march.[140] On 6 August 2014, Khan demanded the
government to dissolve the assemblies, election commission and resigntion of
the Prime minister, and claim that this would be the "biggest political
protest in the history of the country."[141] PTI started their march from Lahore on 14
August and they reached to Islamabad on 16 August.[142] The PTI's lawmakers announced their
resignation from the National Assembly, and the Punjab and Sindh assemblies.[143] However government leaders were trying to
negotiate a settlement with Khan and his party's backers to break what had
become a political deadlock.[144]
Third term as Prime Minister (2013 –
Present)
Main article: Sharif III Government
|
On 7 June 2013, Nawaz Sharif was sworn in for an unprecedented third
term after the resounding election victory of the PML-N. After being sworn in,
he faced numerous challenges, including bringing an end to US drone strikes and Taliban attacks while
also tackling a crippled economy.
Speculation was rife that the new government may need a bailout from the International Monetary Fund to
restore economic stability.[145]
Domestic
policy
Economic policy
|
Fiscal Year
|
GDP growth
|
Inflation rate
|
|
 3.3%-4.1% (conflicted) |
 8.5% |
Sharif inherited an economy crippled with many challenges including
energy shortages, hyperinflation, mild economic growth, high debt and large
budget deficit. Shortly after taking power in 2013, Sharif won a $6.6 billion
loan from the International Monetary Fund to
avoid a balance-of-payments crisis. Lower oil prices, higher remittances and
increased consumer spending are pushing growth toward a seven-year high of 4.3
percent in the fiscal year of FY2014-15.[148]
FY 2013-14
According to the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and
Transparency, quality of governance has ‘marginally improved’ during the
Sharif's first year in power within an overall score of 44% in its Assessment
of the Quality of Governance in Pakistan. It scored highest in
disaster-preparedness, merit-based recruitment, and foreign policy management,
while it received the lowest scores on poverty alleviation and transparency.[149]
Pakistan's GDP growth rate for FY 2012-2013 was 3.3%, that was despite
business confidence in Pakistan reaching a three-year high in May 2014 largely
backed by increasing foreign reserves which crossed $15 billion by mid-2014.
Along with that, in May 2014 IMF[150] claimed that Inflation has dropped to 13 per
cent compared to 25% in 2008, foreign reserves are in a better position and the
current account deficit has come down to 3 per cent of GDP for 2014. Standard & Poor's and Moody's Corporation changed
Pakistan's ranking to stable outlook on the long-term rating.[151][152][153]
However, in FY 2013-2014 Pakistan received foreign direct investment of
$750.9 million,[154] which is 12.9% less than the amount that the
country received in the corresponding preceding fiscal year.[155] On 9 February 2014, the International Monetary Fund said
that Pakistan has met nearly all of its quantitative performance markers, that
its economy is showing signs of improvement and that its reform program remains
broadly on track.[156]
|
“
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The
economy has since shown signs of reviving, though growth is barely keeping up
with the country's birthrate. The IMF this month acknowledged a tentative
turnaround, especially in the large-scale manufacturing and services sectors.
It raised its forecast for economic growth in the fiscal year ending 30 to 3
June.1% from its previous estimate of 2.8%. The government is more
optimistic, expecting growth of some 4.4%.
|
”
|
It is striking that reforms have continued despite disruptive domestic
political challenges over the last year, and heightened security threats from
Islamist terrorism.
On 9 April 2014, World Bank claimed that Pakistan’s economy is at a
turning point, growth recovery is underway, with projected GDP growth
approaching four percent, driven by dynamic manufacturing and service sectors,
better energy availability, and early revival of investor confidence. Inflation is steady at 7.9%. The fiscal deficit is contained at around six percent of GDP due
to improved tax collection and restricted current and development expenditure.
The current account deficit remains modest, at around one percent of GDP,
supported by strong remittances and export dynamism, and the external
position is slowly improving since monetary and exchange rate policies switched
gear towards rebuilding reserves last November.[159]
On 4 July 2013, the IMF and Pakistan reached a provisional agreement on
a $5.3 billion bailout package that aimed to bolster Pakistan’s flagging
economy and its perilously low foreign exchange reserves, that was contrary to
election promise not to take any more loans.[160] On 4 September 2013, The IMF approved
another $6.7 billion loan package to help revive the ailing economy. The loan
would be given over a three-year period. On IMF's demanded Pakistan plans to
carry out various economic reforms, including privatising 31 state owned
companies.[161]
FY 2014-15
Build in 2015 the international terminal Multan International Airport.
On 25 March 2015, Moody's Corporation upgraded
Pakistan’s dollar bonds rating one notch from stable to positive.[162] Asian Development Bank projected
4.2% economic growth for the current financial year 2014-15 against the target
of 5.1%. For the second year in a row Sharif administration missed the key goal
in the face of failure to introduce reforms in the areas of energy, taxation
and public sector enterprises.[163]
On May 3, 2015, The Economist published a report outlining Pakistan's economic
performance. It highlighted that Pakistan’s economic performance said that the
economy will grow by 4.7% next year, the fastest rate in eight years. Consumer
prices rose by 2.5% in between January to March 2015, the smallest increase for
more than a decade. Twice already this year the central bank has lowered its
benchmark interest rate. It said that the government of Nawaz Sharif takes some
credit for the economy’s new stability. It has stuck to an IMF programme agreed
to in 2013, a few months after it came to power in Pakistan’s first-ever
handover from one civilian government to another. Foreign-exchange reserves
have more than doubled, to $17.7 billion.
A privatisation drive that stalled last June resumed in April, when the
government sold its stake in HBL Pakistan for $1 billion. Three-quarters of bids came
from foreign investors. Pakistan’s stockmarket has doubled in dollar terms
since the start of 2012, thanks in large part to such foreign interest. The
Economist said that the progress in providing economic stability is
encouraging. But Pakistan needs sustained growth of 5-7% a year if it is
markedly to cut poverty-at the last count, nearly a quarter of Pakistanis were
below the poverty line.[164]
On 5 May 2015, Standard & Poor's revised
projections for Pakistan's average real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for
2015 to 2017 to 4.6 per cent from 3.8 per cent and also upped its outlook on
Pakistan's long-term 'B-' credit rating to ‘positive’ from ‘stable’. S&P
attributes the largely positive projections to diversification in income
generation, the government's efforts towards fiscal consolidation, improvement
in external financing conditions and performance, and stronger capital inflows
and remittances.[165] ESCAP report published in May 2015 claimed that
economic growth in Pakistan picked up to 4.1% in 2014 from an average of 3.7%
in the previous three years and growth was expected to rise to 5.1% in 2015.[166]
Privatization
Sharif chairing Pakistan-Britain Energy Dialogue and Investment
Conference in London.
Wall Street Journal reviewed
Pakistan's privatization plans on 25 September 2013 in an article published,
WSJ reported that Islamabadplans to sell 35 inefficient state-owned enterprises.
Officials have announced plans to sell 35 public corporations over three years,
including power companies, Pakistan State Oil, Pakistan International Airlines and
Pakistan Steel Mills. These enterprises currently lose taxpayers some 500
billion rupees ($4.7 billion) a year, while delivering poor service.
Inefficiencies in energy cause frequent blackouts, and the supply problem is
exacerbated by government subsidies that have cost a further 1.5 trillion
rupees over five years.[167] The privatization process will be led by a
15-member privatisation commission headed by Mohammad Zubair, formerly IBM’s
chief financial officer for the Middle East and Africa. On 9 January 2014,
Board of Privatisation Commission approved the divestment of shares of three
banks along with two other companies.[168] The government announced to restructure
Pakistan International Airlines, which flies routes around the world, including
to North America. PIA has already put out a tender to lease new aircraft, to
improve its capacity and save fuel with more-efficient planes. As part of the
restructuring, PIA has been split into two companies. A holding group would
retain some 250 billion rupees in debt and excess personnel, and a
"new" PIA would hold the lucrative landing rights and new aircraft.
Afterward, the government plans to sell a 26% stake in that new PIA to a
strategic partner.
Communications and Development
Further information: Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, New Islamabad
International Airport and China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor
Sharif addressing the International
Telecommunication Union's Connect Asia-Pacific 2013 Summit in Thailand.
Upon assuming office, Sharif launched Public Sector Development
Programme (PSDP) which for FY 2014-15 consists of construction ofDiamer-Bhasha Dam, Dasu Dam, Faisalabad-Khanewal M-4 Motorway, Rawalpindi-Islamabad
Metrobus Service and Lahore-Karachi Motorway.[169] While Sharif has also approved feasibility
studies for the construction of rail links from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad via Murree, Havelian to the Pakistan-China
border and Gwadar to Karachi, along with other initiatives such
as approach roads to the New Islamabad International Airport, the new Gwadar
International Airport project, Jetty and Infrastructure development at Gadani,
Gwadar Port Economic Free Zone project, Pak-China Technical and Vocational
Institute at Gwadar and the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park at Lal Sohnra Park Phase-II
(600 MW).[170]
On 24 April 2014, Sharif's administration successfully completed the
auction for next-generation telecom spectrum's raising $1.112 billion from the
process. Sharif personally handed over the 3G and 4G mobile spectrum licenses
to the successful mobile companies — Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone and Zong — Sharif
claimed that Rs 260 billion will be collected in the treasury every year
because of the new technology, moreover the technology will create millions of
jobs in the service sector.[171] In order to counter competition, Sharif upon
assuming office addressed the nation and launched the Prime Minister’s Youth
Programme, a PKR 20 billion to provide interest free loans,
skills development and provision of laptops.
launched
in 2013.
During the 2014-15 fiscal year, Sharif's government announced an
increase in Public Sector Development Programme from Rs 425 billion in to Rs
525 billion. The PSDP is the main instrument in government’s direct control to
channelize funds and make developmental interventions. The government provides
budgetary allocations to those projects and programmes that yield maximum
benefits for the society in the shortest possible time.[172][173] While the government allocated a whooping Rs
73 billion for China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor, including for its cornerstone development, the Lahore-Karachi Motorway.[174]
Pakistan Vision 2025
Constructed under the Sharif administration Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park is the largest in the country.
On 11 August 2014, Sharif administration 'unveiled an ambitious
programme to transform the country into an economically strong and prosperous
nation and to enhance exports to $150 billion by 2025', The Economic Timesreported.[175] According to the Daily Times, the Vision 2025 is based on seven pillars those are: putting people
first; developing human and social capital; achieving sustained, indigenous and
inclusive growth; governance, institutional reform and modernisation of the
public sector; energy, water and food security; private sector-led growth and entrepreneurship,
developing a competitive knowledge economy through value addition and
modernisation of transportation infrastructure and greater regional
connectivity.[176]
Considering the existing political challenges faced by Sharif and shaky
democratic process in the country, ownership of the rather flawed Vision 2025
is another major concern. The question is will future political setups continue
to work on this plan to make it a reality, in case of any change of guard at
the center? Each successive government in Pakistan has historically made a
U-turn from its predecessor’s policies. If this trend prevails, then the Vision
2025 will fail to translate into action.
Nuclear power policy
Prime Minister Sharif has always been a staunch advocate of constructing nuclear reactors. In November 2013, Sharif ceremonially broke
ground on a $9.59 billion nuclear power complex to be built in Karachi. Upon completion, the reactors will produce 2200MW of electricity.[178] During the groundbreaking ceremony, Sharif
stated that Pakistan will construct six nuclear power plants during his term in
office.[179] He went on to say that Pakistan has plans on
constructing a total of 32 nuclear power plants by 2050, which will generate
more than 40,000MW of energy.[180] In February 2014, Sharif confirmed to the IAEA that
all future civilian nuclear power plants and research reactors will voluntarily
be put under IAEA safeguards.[181]
National security and defense policy
Main articles: C2NS and Civil military operations
Further information: 2014 Peshawar school massacre, Pakistan Day Parade 2015 and National Action Plan (Pakistan)
Sharif meeting with the with themilitary establishment at the Prime Minister's
Secretariat.
According to analysts, public expectations of Nawaz Sharif were sky high
that he would quickly get to grips with Pakistan's most pressing problems, such
as rampant terrorism, multiple insurgencies, an economy in free fall, the lack
of electricity and a debilitating foreign policy. On 9 September 2013, Sharif
proposed that dialogue with the Pakistani military would
create a civil-military partnership,
putting the military and an elected government on the same page for the first
time in Pakistan's history. This
had so far yielded few results.[182] On immediate basis, Sharif reestablished the National
Security Council with Sartaj Aziz being its National Security Advisor (NSA).[183] Furthermore, Sharif also reconstituted the Cabinet
Committee on National Security (C2NS), with military gaining
representation in the country's politics.[184]According to the political scientist and civic-military relations expert,
Aqil Shah, Sharif finally did what exactly former chairman joint
chiefsGeneral Karamat had
called for in 1998.[184]
Prime Minister Sharif announced that it would open unconditional talks
with the Taliban, declaring them stakeholders rather than terrorists. The PML-N's
conservative hardliners also chose to blame the U.S. and NATO for causing terrorism in Pakistan. The peace
effort was encountering problems before it had ever really begun. The Pakistani Taliban's Supreme Council released demands for a
cease-fire, to also include the release of all its imprisoned militants and the
withdrawal of the Pakistani military from
all tribal regions. Former and current government officials
criticized Sharif for not yet laying out a clear vision of how the country
should handle its more than 40 militant groups, many of them made up of violent Islamic extremists.[185]
On 15 September 2013, just six days after Sharif's proposal for talks
with the Taliban, a roadside bomb killed a high-ranking Pakistan's army general and another officer near the border with Afghanistan. Major-General Sanaullah Khan, along with a lieutenant
colonel and another soldier, were killed in the Upper Dir district after visiting an outpost near the
border. Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the
bombing. On the same day, seven more soldiers were killed in four other
separate attacks.[186] In a press release, Chairman
joint chiefs General Shameem Wynne and chief of army staff General Pervez Kayani, who had
earlier warned Sharif not to adopt a surrender strategy, now publicly warned
the government that the military would not allow the Taliban to set conditions
for peace. General Kayani stated: "No-one should have any misgivings that
we would let terrorists coerce us into accepting their terms."[187] According to media reports, Nawaz Sharif is
in favour of holding unconditional talks with the Taliban whereas General
Kayani favours direct military action. General Kayani stated that Pakistan will
not be coerced into talks and that as long as militant groups carry out attacks
on soldiers, the military will respond with brute force.[188]
Pakistan desires peace and tranquility both within and outside its
borders so that the much needed socio-economic development goals are achieved.
We cannot afford to be distracted in fulfilling our national objectives. At the
same Pakistan will never compromise on its sovereignty and independence.
On 16 December 2014, seven members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan conducted
a terrorist attack on the public school in the city of Peshawar which killed over 130 children, making it
Pakistan's deadliest terrorist attack. Following the attack Sharif - with
consultation from all political parties- divsised a 20-point National Plan of
Action which included continued execution of convicted terrorists,
establishment of special military courts for two years and regulation of madrasas.[190]
On 11 March 2015, Rangers held a raid on Nine Zero, the headquarters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement as
part of Karachi operation. According to The Express Tribune on 21
March 2015 sources in the federal government said the Sharif along with the
military establishment had decided to accelerate the operation against
Muttahida Qaumi Movement and other militant wings in political parties.
Karachi will be made a crime-free city and the operation will continue
to achieve the objective, We are going ahead without being deterred by the
incidents happening there. The crime rate of extortion and kidnapping is
falling down in the city.
Between 24 December 2014 to 25 March 2015, based on the National Action Plan,
government arrested 32,347 people on different charges in 28,826 operations
conducted across the country. During the same period Pakistan deported 18,855
Afghan refugees while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered 64
cases for money transfer through Hawala, arrested 83 people and recovered
Rs.101.7 million. In total, 351 actionable calls were received on the
anti-terror helpline and National
Database and Registration Authority verified
total 59.47 million SIMs.[192]
Operation Zarb-e-Azb
Main articles: Counter-retaliation and Operation Zarb-e-Azb
.jpg)
Sharif at the conference on Afghanistan in London.
The negotiations between the Taliban and
the Sharif administration collapsed after the execution of 23 Frontier Corps by the Taliban on 17 February 2014, the
relations between the administration and the Taliban escalated further after
the 2014 Jinnah
International Airport attack.[193]The operation was
formally launched on 15 June 2014 after the Sharif administration prepared for
a three-front operation:[77] isolating targeted militant groups, obtaining
support from the political parties and saving civilians from the backlash of
the operation.[77] The 2014 Wagah border suicide
attack has been the deadliest retaliation against
the Operation so far.[194]
Foreign
policy
Neighboring countries
Sharif upon taking oath as the Prime Minister launched ‘peaceful
neighborhood’ initiative to improve ties with neighboring countries of India,Afghanistan, Iran and China.[195] On 12 May 2014, Sharif met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani amid tensions between the two neighbors
following the kidnapping in February, 2014 of five Iranian soldiers by extremists
who took them across the border into Pakistan.[196]
The cultural affinity among our peoples is a huge asset. Shared
geography and history have culminated in a unique synthesis of cultures and
traditions. We must therefore, place our people at the centre of the SAARC
processes. SAARC must capture the imagination of our peoples and contribute to
creating strong and mutually beneficial bonds.
China
Further information: China–Pakistan Economic
Corridor and Xi Jinping's
visit to Pakistan 2015
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was the first world leader to visit Pakistan
and congratulate Sharif on his victory in 2013 elections,[198] upon return to Beijing Chinese Premier announced investment of $31.5
billion in Pakistan mainly in countries energy, infrastructure and port
expansion for Gwadar. According to The Express Tribune initially
projects worth $15–20 billion will be started which include Lahore-Karachi
motorway, Gwadar Port expansion and energy sector projects will be launched in Gadani and
six coal projects near Thar coalfield. The newspaper further claimed that the
government has also handed over to Pakistan Army the task of providing
fool-proof security to Chinese officials inBalochistan, Pakistan in a
bid to address Beijing’s concerns and execute the investment plan in the
province, which will get 38% of the funds.[199] On 8 November 2014, Sharif led delegation to Beijing inked 20 agreements amounting to Chinese
investment reportedly worth about $46 billion.[200] Sharif also announced Pakistan's help for
China with its fight against East Turkestan Islamic Movement.[201]
India
Further information: Swearing-in
ceremony of Narendra Modi
.jpg)
Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi with Prime Minister of Pakistan,
Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif inherited the country with Geo-political challenges, with the U.S
withdrawal and election of new leadership in Afghanistan and the election of Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India . Upon
controlling office Sharif promised good relations with all its neighbors, he
launched trade talks with India with promise of liberalizing trade
relationship. Sharif meet Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in
September 2013 however no major agreement was reached.[202] Sharif took significant steps are to improve
relations, in particular the consensus on the agreement of Non-Discriminatory
Market Access on Reciprocal Basis (NDMARB) status for each other, which will
liberalize trade however on 26 March 2014 The Times of India reported
that Pakistan military has pressurized Sharif to stop any trade liberalization
with India.[203]
On 16 May 2014, Sharif telephoned Narendra Modi and congratulated him on
BJP's "impressive" victory in the general elections in India. During
his conversation, Sharif invited Modi to visit Pakistan, becoming among the
first leaders to do so.[204] Sharif also attended the inauguration of Modi on 26
May 2014. It was the first time since the two countries won independence in
1947 that a prime minister from one state attended such a ceremony in the
other. After the meeting, the two counterparts agreed to enhance cooperation in
the field of trade.[205][206] On Friday 5 September, Sharif sent a total of
15 cases of mangoes to Modi and other Indian leadership as an attempt to 'sweeten
the relationship',[207] By 8 October 2014, 20 civilians were killed
and thousands forced to flee their homes after Pakistani and Indian security
forces started heavy shelling, both sides blamed the other for the shooting.[208] On 20 November 2014, Sharif blamed India for
having an inflexible approach towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute.[209]
Afghanistan
On 15 November 2014, Sharif greeted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and pledged his support to the Afghan
president over his attempt to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. Al Jazeera reported that 'the leaders also pledged to
begin a new era of economic co-operation, with Ghani saying three days of talks
had ended 13 years of testy relations'. The two countries also signed a trade
deal aimed at doubling trade between the Kabul and Islamabad to $5
billion by 2017, while the two countries also pledged to work together on a
power import project and Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline.[210] During the visit Sharif and Ghani also watch
a cricket match between the two countries.[211]
United States
President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan in 2014.
At the invitation of Barack Obama, Sharif paid an official visit to Washington D.C from 20 to 23 October 2013, marking the
commitment of both Leaders to strengthen U.S.-Pakistan relations and advance
shared interests in a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan and region, read
a press release of White House. Voice of America reported that as a sign of improvement in the
ties, the U.S. has decided to release more than $1.6 billion in military and
economic aid to Pakistan that was suspended when relations between the
two countries soured over the covert raid that killed al-Qaida head Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan in 2011.[212] On Pakistan's request the United States
temporarily stopped drone strikes
in north-western Pakistan.[213] On 5 November 2014, Pakistan summoned US
Ambassador Richard Olson days
after a Pentagon report alleged that terrorists operate
against India and Afghanistan from sanctuaries inside Pakistan, Pakistan
called them 'unsubstantiated allegations'.[214]
Europe
.jpg)
William Hague with
Sharif in London.
On 30 April 2014, Sharif visited London and
meet David Cameron, he also meet the Deputy
Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary,
Secretary of State for International Development and delivering a keynote
address at the Pakistan Investment Conference. According to a press release
issued by 10 Downing Street The
two leaders agreed to work together to support the Pakistan’s implementation of
critical economic reforms, particularly to increase the tax to GDP ratio
towards 15% and welcomed the developing relationship between the Federal Board of Revenue and HM Revenue and Customs to
support this.[215] On 24 March 2014 Sharif attended 2014 Nuclear Security Summit,
addressing the conference he claimed that Pakistan attaches highest importance
to nuclear security because it is directly linked to our national security.
Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapons state. We pursue a policy of nuclear
restraint, as well as credible minimum deterrence.[216] On 11 November 2014, Sharif visitedBerlin where
he met with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to Deutsche Welle, during the meeting Sharif argued a case for
more German investment particularly in the energy sector, but Merkel expressed
wariness over the security situation in Pakistan.[217]
Muslim world
On 18 March 2014, Bahrain’s ruler King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa started
a three-day official visit to Pakistan becoming the first visit of the King of
Bahrain to Pakistan in four decades, during the trip the two sides signed six
agreements hoping to draw investment from the oil-rich Gulf country.
Saudi Arabia
Further information: Saudi-led
intervention in Yemen (2015–present)
Sharif is said to enjoy exceptionally close ties with senior members of
the Saudi royal family. On 2
April 2014, Pakistan Today reported
that Pakistan will sell JF-17 Thunder jets to Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom had
given a grant of $1.5 billion to Pakistan in early 2014.[218][219] On 15 February 2014 Saudi Arabia’s Crown
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud arrived in Pakistan to meet Sharif where he
vowed to enhance work between the two countries towards common issues to serve
their both their interests regionally and internationally.[220] Sharif traveled to Saudi Arabia to spend last
10 days of Ramadan, On 26 July 2014, King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia
would always stand by Pakistan, its leadership and people, after an hour-long
meeting with Sharif at his Riyadh. Sharif also met Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,
while Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud refereed
Pakistan as his 'second home'.[221]
On 15 March 2015, Al-Monitor reported that the Salman of Saudi Arabia wanted
firm assurances from Sharif that Pakistan would align itself with Saudi Arabia
and its Sunni Arab allies against Iran, especially in the proxy war now underway
in Yemen. Salman specifically wanted a Pakistani military contingent to deploy
to the kingdom to help defend the vulnerable borders, Sharif has reluctantly
decided not to send troops to Saudi Arabia for now. Sharif promised closer
counter-terrorism and military cooperation but no troops for the immediate
future.[222]
Russia
On 20 November 2014, during the visit of Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu led 41 member high-level delegation, Pakistan
and Russia signed sign an agreement on military cooperation. Shoygu held
in-depth talk with Sharif, after wards Sharif promised to promote a
multi-dimensional relations with Russia.[223] The meeting came months after Russia had
lifted an embargo on supplying weapons and military hardware to Pakistan,
starting with Mil Mi-24 helicopters.[224]
Criticism
Main article: Azadi March 2014
(anti-government movement)
reports on opposition protests against
Nawaz Sharif in late 2014.
After his return to power, a protest movement led by Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri and supported by rival factions of the Muslim
League such as Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PLM-Q)
and Awami Muslim League (AML)
along with independents meant that pressure mounted on the Sharif government.
Khan demanded resignation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan against
the government's inadequacy in addressing and resolving allegations of rigging
in the 2013 general election.[16] Sharif claimed to have unanimous support from
the majority of the parties in the Parliament. Khan claimed that the 2013
general elections were rigged, the PML-N claimed that these were the most free
and fair elections in the country's history. Sharif has also been criticised by
his opponents for running a system of patronage in which key relatives are
appointed to key state positions such as his brother as Chief Minister, and for
appointing relatives as Ministers in the federal government.[225][226][227] On 30 September 2014, Opposition
leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah,
said that the Prime Minister may voluntarily recall mid-term elections.[228][229]
On April 24, 2015, human rights activist Sabeen Mahmud was shot dead in Karachi minutes after she attended a talk she had
organised on Human rights
violations in Balochistan. Civil society activists and investigators
alleged that she was killed for her activism and for being outspoken on various
contentious topics, from extremism to state-sponsored abuses. The talk that
Mahmud organised that night was initially supposed to be hosted at the Lahore
University of Management Sciences however
the university cancelled it a day before it was scheduled, saying it was
pressured by government authorities to do so.[230] Sharif officially condemned the killing
however Dawn claimed
that there is a little chance her murderers will ever be brought to justice
given the recent history of impunity among those who target the country's
marginalised liberals. On April 20, 2015, The Express Tribune claimed
that Sharif administration misled the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
over the actual tax charged on the issuance of bonus shares, as collection from
supposedly the biggest source of income tax in the year stands at a mere Rs.1
billion. As against the actual income tax rate of 5% on the value of bonus
shares, the government has told the IMF that it levied a 10% tax, which will
generate revenue equal to 0.1% of gross domestic product or Rs.29 billion.[231]
Public
image and legacy
Wealth
and conglomerates
The industrialisation of the country was bestowed under the watchful
eyes of the president Ayub Khan during the most of the 1960s.[232] The industrial sector was destroyed by the nationalisation program of
prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, in an
attempt to secure the capital flight of country's investment to Eastern Europe.[232] This program included the encroachment of Itefaq Group and many other large industries by Bhutto
government[233] Although the steel mill was returned in 1980
to Sharif family, but a havoc was already done by the nationalisation policy of
the prime minister Bhutto.[232]
In 2005, Daily Pakistan reported
that Sharif family are
the fourth wealthiest family and
the second
wealthiest political leaders in
Pakistan with an estimated net worth of US$1.4 billion.[234] 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.[235][236]
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