signed Islamabad Accord to end the Afghan crisis. He did not bow down before the American sanctions on Pakistan through Pressler Amendment and gave boost to the national economy.
His party was defeated by the PPP in the General Elections 1993. However, Nawaz was appointed as leader of the opposition in the national assembly from 1993 to 1997.
The PML again won the elections held in February 1997 with overwhelming majority and Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as Prime Minister for second time. Taking advantage of his absolute majority, he managed to repeal the controversial Eighth Amendment. He added another milestone to the Constitution when his Parliament adopted the anti-defection Fourteenth Amendment Bill. Similarly, mega project of Motorway is another feather in his cap.
He was not at good relations with the then CJ and President Farooq Leghari during his second tenure. His differences with the judiciary and presidency culminated in the removal of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah while President Farooq Leghari resigned on December 2, 1997.
In 1998, the world powers exerted pressure on him for not exploding nuclear bomb. But he refused the pressure and conducted the nuclear test on May 28, 1998. Pakistan became a nuclear power by successfully carrying out five nuclear tests at Chaghi area of Baluchistan. It was in direct response to five nuclear explosions by India, just two weeks earlier.
However, later, Nawaz Sharif attempted to normalize relations between India and Pakistan. He took an initiative in February 1999 and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee visited Lahore via bus through Wagah border in 1999 and the two leaders signed historical Lahore Declaration.
In May 1999, relations between Pakistan and India once again became bitter because of Kargil War. The latest conflict between the two nuclear powers posed a threat to the South Asia region.
However, after the intervention of international community, particularly US President Bill Clinton, talks resumed between India and Pakistan. The US President persuaded Pakistan to use its influence on the freedom fighters to avert a full-scale war with India. The freedom fighters vacated the captured territory by August, 1999.
General Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif’s government through a military coup on October 12, 1999. Nawaz Sharif was trailed on the charges of Kargil Operation, corruption and the plane conspiracy cases. He was found guilty in the “Plane Conspiracy” case. However, on the request of Saudi Royal Family, the Government of Pakistan exiled him to Saudi Arabia on December 20, 2000. He moved to UK in 2006 from where he attempted to come back to Pakistan on September 10 but was again deported to Saudi Arabia on the same day.
Shehbaz Sharif, younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, was born in 1950 in Lahore. He joined the politics in 1990 and was elected as MNA. He also was elected as opposition leader in 1993 in the Punjab Assembly when Manzoor Wattoo was Chief Minister of Punjab. Because of his illness, he remained abroad for some years and, in his absence, Ch. Pervaiz Elahi was appointed as acting opposition leader.
Shehbaz was elected as MPA during general election 1997 and sworn in as Chief Minister of Punjab on February 20, 1997. He was ousted from power after General Musharraf’s military coup on October 12, 1999.
Being Chief Executive of Punjab Province, he was known for his good governance. During his tenure, he focused on health, education, agriculture and industrial sectors. He launched a successful operation against ghost schools by involving army. He also took action against booti-mafia across the province. Entry Test System and Self Finance System in medical colleges were introduced during his regime.
He never compromised on quality work in development sector. Jail Road Lahore, underpasses at the Canal Road, Ferozepur Road from Ichra Bridge to Chungi Amarsadhu, Main Boulevard Gulberg and Cavalry Ground Overhead Bridge are few examples of his commitment.
In order to maintain law and order in the province, Shehbaz eliminated hardened criminals and activists of militant organizations involved in sectarianism through police encounters. In a similar police encounter, he was charged with killing of five people and the case is pending in an Anti Terrorist Court.
He was elected as President Pakistan Muslim League (N) on August 3, 2002 and reelected as party president on August 2, 2006 for another term.
A few years of his exile to Saudi Arabia in 2002, he moved to America for medical treatment. Later, he did not return to Saudi Arabia and stayed in London. He attempted to come back to Pakistan on May 11, 2004, however, he was deported again to Saudi Arabia.
Now both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif once again are arriving Pakistan on November 25 (today). Several cases are still pending against them in local courts.
