The siblings out of Punjab appeared a spent force five years ago but have successfully turned the tables on their rivals.
Having served as the prime minister more times than any other Pakistani politician, yet never completing a full term, Nawaz Sharif aims to alter his fortunes in his fourth attempt.
Born in 1949 and 1950, respectively, Nawaz and Shehbaz have been prominent figures in politics since the 1980s.
Nawaz, initially involved in the family business, House of Ittefaq (Ittefaq Group), ventured into politics as Punjab’s finance minister during General Ziaul Haq’s regime. His political journey began with his election as the province’s chief minister in 1985, and he continued in that role after the end of martial law in 1988. Following Haq’s death, the Pakistan Muslim League, of which Nawaz was part, split, and he assumed leadership of PML, later known as PML-N.mgn MNA. However, Nawaz’s tenure ended prematurely in 1993 when then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolved the National Assembly, a decision successfully challenged by the PML-N leader in the Supreme Court.
Returning to power, Nawaz called for fresh elections but lost to PPP’s Benazir Bhutto. During this period, both brothers played crucial roles in the opposition. Nawaz led the opposition in the National Assembly, while Shehbaz held a similar position in the Punjab Assembly.
In 1997, Nawaz became prime minister for the second time, with Shehbaz as Punjab’s chief minister. However, his relations with the military soured in 1999, leading to a failed attempt to remove Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf, resulting in a military coup. Nawaz faced trial and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Under a Saudi-brokered agreement, the Sharif brothers were in exile for the next decade. They returned in 2007, formed a coalition government with the PPP, and Shehbaz became Punjab CM again.
The 2013 elections marked Nawaz’s return as prime minister for the third time, though his tenure was cut short in 2017 due to his disqualification in the Panama Papers case. Shehbaz became the leader of the opposition.
While Nawaz faced legal challenges and imprisonment, Shehbaz contested the 2018 elections and later became the opposition leader in the National Assembly.
In 2022, Shehbaz became the prime minister but faced challenges such as economic issues and inflation. He handed over responsibilities to the caretaker government in August 2022.
Nawaz’s return in October 2023 marked a shift, with Shehbaz taking a backseat. Legal victories for both brothers ensued, and on January 8, the SC quashed lifetime disqualification for lawmakers, clearing the path for Nawaz.
On civil-military relations, Nawaz has been more assertive, accusing the security establishment and judiciary. Both brothers focus on economic growth, infrastructure development, and support for CPEC. They advocate better ties with neighbors, especially India.