Nawaz Sharif

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (Urdu/Punjabi: Nawaz Sharif

, born 25 December 1949) is a
Pakistani businessman and ex-politician who served as the
Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1990 to 1993, from 1997 to
1999 and again from 2013 to 2017. He had previously served
as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1985 to 1990. He is
Pakistan's longest-serving prime minister.[1]

Born into the upper-middle class Sharif family in Lahore, he

is the son of Ittefaq and Sharif Group founder, Muhammad
Sharif, and the elder-brother of three-time elected Punjab
Chief Minister, Shehbaz. He is one of Pakistan's wealthiest
men with a net worth of $1.4 billion.[2] Sharif studied
business at Government College and later law at the
University of Punjab before entering politics in the later
1970s. In 1981, Sharif was appointed by Zia-ul-Haq's regime
as the Minister of Finance for the province of Punjab.
Backed by a loose coalition of conservatives, he was elected
as the Chief Minister of Punjab in 1985 and re-elected after Prime Minister of Pakistan
the end of martial law in 1988. In 1990, Sharif led a In office
conservative alliance to victory, leading him to become the 5 June 2013 28 July 2017
nation's Prime Minister. Later it was alleged that the election
was rigged in favour of Sharif by the Pakistani intelligence President Mamnoon Hussain
agency, the ISI, channeling millions of rupees into his Preceded by Mir Hazar Khan Khoso (Interim)
election campaign.[3]
Succeeded by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Sharif's first administration came to an end when then In office
President Ghulam dismissed Sharif on corruption charges. 17 February 1997 12 October 1999
Sharif successfully challenged the dismissal in the Supreme President Farooq Leghari
Court,[4] but both men were ultimately persuaded to step
Wasim Sajjad
down in 1993 by army chief Waheed.[4] Sharif's second term
Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
also saw tussles with the judiciary and the military. Sharif
also forcibly relieved General Karamat from command and Preceded by Malik Meraj Khalid
replaced him with Musharraf in 1998.[5] However, the Kargil Succeeded by Pervez Musharraf (Chief Executive)
War led to a deterioration of his relations with Musharraf.
When he attempted to relieve Musharraf from his command In office
on 12 October 1999, the military instead ousted Sharif's 6 November 1990 18 July 1993
government and exiled him to Saudi Arabia.[5] President Ghulam Ishaq Khan

In the 2013 elections, Sharif's Muslim League formed a Preceded by Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi
coalition government. As a result, Sharif was elected Prime Succeeded by Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi
Minister by Parliament.[6][7] On the security front, in 2015 (Acting)
the military launched an offensive to remove extremist
Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
groups in northwestern Pakistan and another paramilitary
offensive in 2017.[8][9] Sharif's third term is also underpinned Incumbent
by social centrism rather than the social conservatism which Assumed office
guided his prior two terms.[10][11] Sharif's third term has 27 July 2011
brought macroeconomic stability with the help of substantial
loans from the IMF, and multi-billion dollar investment deals Preceded by Javed Hashmi
with China.[12] However, he has faced criticism over rising In office
6 October 1993 12 October 1999
sovereign debt,[13] which has risen by 35%.[14] Sharif's
sovereign debt,[13] which has risen by 35%.[14] Sharif's Preceded by Fida Mohammad Khan
family has come under trial over the Panama
Succeeded by Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif
Papers.[15][16][17][18][19]
Leader of the Opposition
On 28 July 2017, Sharif was barred from public office by the In office
Supreme Court of Pakistan for a period of 10 years. He was
19 October 1993 5 November 1996
also put on the Exit Control List to prevent his departure
from the countryin order for the NAB to continue Preceded by Benazir Bhutto
investigation corruption charges against Sharif and his three Succeeded by Benazir Bhutto
children, Mariam, Hussain and Hassan.[20] Sharif submitted
Chief Minister of Punjab
his resignation after the ruling.[21]
In office
9 April 1985 13 August 1990
Contents Governor Ghulam Jilani Khan
Sajjad Hussain Qureshi
1 Personal life and education Tikka Khan
2 Political career Preceded by Sadiq Hussain Qureshi
2.1 Initial political career
2.2 Punjab Advisory Council Succeeded by Ghulam Haider Wyne
2.3 Chief Minister of Punjab Personal details
2.4 1988 elections
3 First term as prime minister (199093) Born Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
3.1 Conservative policies 25 December 1949
3.2 Domestic issues Lahore, Pakistan
3.3 Industrialization and privatisation
Political Pakistan Muslim League (before
3.4 Science policy
3.5 Nuclear policy party 1988)
3.6 1992 co-operatives societies scandal Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (19881993)
3.7 1993 constitutional crisis Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
3.8 End of first term (1993present)
4 Parliamentary opposition (199396)
5 Second term as prime minister (199799) Spouse(s) Kalsoom Butt (1970present)
5.1 Atomic policy Children 4 including Maryam, Hussain,
5.1.1 1998 nuclear tests
Hassan
5.1.2 Economical effects of tests
5.1.3 Political effects of tests Relatives See Sharif family
5.1.4 Space programme Alma mater University of the Punjab
5.2 Foreign policy
Government College University,
5.3 Constitutional amendment
5.4 Issues with judiciary Lahore
5.4.1 Attack on Supreme Court Net worth 1.75 billion (US$17 million)
5.4.2 2006 formal apology
5.5 Policy on anti-terrorism
5.6 Relations with the military
5.6.1 Dismissal of General Jehangir
Karamat
5.6.2 Confrontation with the military
6 Military coup
6.1 Trial of the prime minister
6.1.1 1999 tax evasion scandal
7 Return to Pakistan
7.1 Failed attempt in Islamabad
7.2 Successful return in Lahore
8 2008 General elections
9 In opposition (20082013)
9.1 By-elections
 9.2 Musharraf impeachment
9.3 Lawyers movement
9.4 Removal of bar on third term
10 2013 Pakistan general election
10.1 KhanSharif rivalry
10.2 Policies
10.3 2013 election results
11 Third term as Prime Minister (2013 2017)
11.1 Domestic policy
11.1.1 Social policy
11.1.2 Economic policy
11.1.2.1 Overview
11.1.2.2 FY 201314
11.1.2.3 FY 201415
11.1.2.4 FY 201516
11.1.2.5 FY 201617
11.1.2.6 Privatization
11.1.2.7 Communications and
development
11.1.2.8 Pakistan Vision 2025
11.1.2.9 Nuclear power policy
11.1.2.10 FATA reform
11.2 National security and defence policy
11.2.1 Karachi operation
11.2.2 Operation Zarb-e-Azb
11.3 Foreign policy
11.3.1 Neighboring countries
11.3.1.1 China
11.3.1.2 India
11.3.1.2.1 2016 Indian
Kashmir unrest
11.3.1.3 Afghanistan
11.3.2 United States
11.3.3 Europe
11.3.4 Muslim world
11.3.4.1 Saudi Arabia
11.3.5 Russia
12 Public image
13 Criticism
13.1 Wealth and conglomerates
13.2 2016 Panama Papers leak
14 Eponymous entities
15 See also
16 References
17 Further readings and sources
18 External links

Personal life and education

Nawaz Sharif was born in Lahore, Punjab on 25 December 1949.[22][23] The Sharif family are Punjabis of
Kashmiri origin.[23] His father, Muhammad Sharif, was an upper-middle-class businessman and industrialist
whose family had emigrated from Anantnag in Kashmir for business, and eventually settled in the village of
Jati Umra in Amritsar district, Punjab at the beginning of the twentieth century. His mother's family came from
Pulwama.[24] After the movement led by Jinnah and his struggle to create Pakistan in 1947, his parents
migrated from Amritsar to Lahore.[23] His father followed the teachings of the Ahl-i Hadith.[25] His family

owns Ittefaq Group, a multimillion-dollar steel conglomerate[26] and

owns Ittefaq Group, a multimillion-dollar steel conglomerate[26] and
Sharif Group, a conglomerate company with holdings in agriculture,
transport and sugar mills.

He is married to Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, who is also descended from a

Kashmiri family.[27] 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.[28] His daughter Maryam
Nawaz is currently the chairperson for the prime minister's youth Government College University, where
initiative. Maryam is married to politician Muhammad Safdar Awan.[29] Sharif studied business.
His other daughter, Asma Nawaz, is married to Ali Dar, son of Ishaq
Dar, the current finance minister of Pakistan.[24][30] The personal
residence of the Sharif family, Raiwind Palace, is located in Jati Umra, Raiwind, on the outskirts of Lahore.[31]
He also has a residence in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, known as the Sharif Villa, where he lived during his years in
exile.[32] His elder son, Hussain Nawaz, is a businessman based in Saudi Arabia and currently resides in the
Jeddah house.[33] His younger son, Hassan Nawaz, is also a businessman and lives in London.[34]

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.[35][36] Nawaz Sharif underwent heart surgery in May 2016 in London. It was his second open-heart
operation.[37][38] His deteriorating health and ultimately an open heart surgery only three days before the
presentation of country's annual budget. Many opposition leaders and the legal fraternity, including former
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry have raised important questions impending constitutional crisis in
the country. Chaudhry called for electing a new interim Prime Minister to avoid the crisis.[39]

Political career
Initial political car eer

Nawaz Sharif started his political career during the period of nationalization policies introduced by former
Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[23] The Sharif family were financially devastated after the family steel
business was nationalised, and Sharif jumped into national politics soon afterwards.[23] In 1976 Sharif joined
the Pakistan Muslim League, a conservative front rooted in the Punjab province. He initially focused on
regaining control of his steel plants from the government.[23] 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; Sharif was one of the men he found and promoted, quickly
making him Finance Minister of the Punjab.[40] 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.[23]

He maintained close relations with Zia-ul-Haq, who soon agreed to return the steel mill which had been lost to
nationalisation by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[23] 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.[23]

Sharif invested in Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Arab countries in the Middle East to rebuild his steel
empire.[41] 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 or the Pakistan Peoples Party."[41] After coming to national power in 1990, Sharif attempted to reverse
of Bhutto's nationalisation policies, introducing an economy based on privatisation and economic
liberalisation.[41]
Punjab Advisory Council

In 1981, he initially joined as a member of the Punjab Advisory Council[35] under General Ghulam Jilani Khan,
the Governor of the Province.[40] Since his early career, Sharif has been a strong vocal of capitalism and
strongly opposed its inverse, the nationalisation.[23] 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 to improve the economy.[23] 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.[35] As provincial finance minister, he
presented development-oriented budgets to the military government.[35] 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.[23] 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.[23] 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.[23]

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.[40] Sharif
secured a landslide victory during the non-political parties 1985 elections and became Chief Minister of Punjab
with the support of the army.[23] He served for two consecutive terms as Chief Minister of Punjab Province, the
most populous province of Pakistan.[42] Because of his vast popularity, he received the nickname "Lion of the
Punjab".[43] As chief minister, he stressed welfare and development activities and the maintenance of law and
order.[35]

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.[35] 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.[35] In 1988, General Zia dismissed the government of hand-picked Prime minister
Muhammad Khan Junejo, and called for new elections.[35] 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.[35]

1988 elections

After General Zia's death in August 1988, Zia's political partyPakistan Muslim League (Pagara Group)split
into two factions.[44] Sharif led the Zia loyalist Fida Group against the Junejo Group, led by prime minister
Muhammad Khan Junejo.[44] The Fida Group later took on the mantle of the PML while the Junejo Group
became known as the JIP.[44] 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).[44] The
alliance was co-led by Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Sharif to oppose Benazir Bhutto's PPP in the elections.[44]
The IJI gained substantial majorities in the Punjab and Sharif was re-elected Chief Minister of Punjab.[44]

In December 1989, Sharif decided to remain in the provincial Punjab Assembly rather than hold a seat in the
National Assembly.[45] In early 1989, the PPP government failed to unseat Sharif through a no-confidence
motion in the Punjab Assembly.[44] Sharif retained control by a vote of 152 to 106.[44]

First term as prime minister (199093)

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.[46] 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.[46] IJI had been created
and funded by the Zia loyalists in the ISI; it received Rs 15 million from the ISI.[47] He campaigned on a
conservative platform and vowed to reduce government corruption.[46] He focused on improving the nation's
infrastructure and spurred the growth of digital telecommunication.[46] He privatised government banks and
opened the door for further industrial privatisation, and disbanded Zulfikar Bhutto's policies.[46] He legalised
foreign money exchange to be transacted through private money exchangers.[46] His privatisation policies were
continued by both Benazir Bhutto in the mid-1990s and Shaukat Aziz as well in the 2000s.[46]

Conservative policies

Sharif took steps to initiate Islamization and conservatism at once.[46]

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, bioconservatism
and religious conservatism in Pakistan.[46]

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.[46]
Nawaz Sharif meeting with conservative
Sharif intensified General Zia-ul-Haq's controversial Islamization
intellectuals of Pakistan in Sindh
policies, and introduced Islamic Laws such as the Shariat Ordinance
Province, c. 1990s.
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.[46]

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.[46] 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.[46] 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.[48]

Domestic issues

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.[49] 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 strained Pakistan's relationships with Iraq.[49] 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 Hussein in 2003.[49]

Sharif contended with former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg over the 1991 Gulf War (See
Operation Desert Storm).[49] 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 to provide intense security to Saudi royal family.[49] Sharif also contended the upcoming Chief of Army
Staff General Asif Nawaz over the paramilitary operation in Sindh Province (See Operation Clean-Up).[49]
Sharif, during his first term, found it difficult working with the PPP and the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement
(MQM), a potent force in Karachi.[50] The MQM and PPP opposed Sharif widely due to his focus on
beautifying Punjab and Kashmir while neglecting Sindh.[50] 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.[50] Despite MQM had
formed government with Sharif, more and more problems were mounted between Sharif and the MQM in
1992.[50] 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.[50] 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.[50] 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).[49] 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.[50] Benazir Bhutto, during the course of this
episode, remained silent as she too had opposed the MQM.[50] His operation continued by Benazir also, but due
to amid pressure exerted by her brother Murtaza Bhutto, the operation came to halt.[50] The period of 1992
1994 is considered the bloodiest years in the history of the city, with many went missing.[50]

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.[50] 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.[50] 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, Northwest Frontier, Kashmir
and the Punjab Provinces.[50]

Industrialization and privatisation

Shortly after assuming the office of prime minister, Sharif announced his economic policy under the
programme called, the "National Economic Reconstruction Programme" (NERP).[46] This programme
introduced an extreme level of the Western-styled capitalist economic system.[46]

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.[46] 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.".[51]
In 1990, Sharif announced the nuclear policy and aimed to continue the peaceful atomic programme benefit 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.[46] 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.[52] However Prime minister Sharif lacked the charisma and
personality of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but countered Bhutto's ideology with full force, by imitating him.[52] During
the period of 199093, 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.[52] 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.[52]

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.[46] Sharif family was an affectee of
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's nationalisation policy.[46] 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.[46] In 1990, Prime minister Sharif successfully privatised the
National Development Finance Corporation[46]

He introduced and inaugurated several large-scale projects to stimulate

Privatization programme reached the
the economy, such as the Ghazie-Barotah Hydropower plant and the.[46]
GDP growth rate to 7.57% (1992) but
However, unemployment remained a challenge, therefore Sharif
dropped at 4.37% (1993; 1998).
imported thousands of privatised Yellow-cab taxis to many young
Pakistanis, but this program came at a cost.[46] 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.[46] However, Sharif indeed
privatised these taxis at low rate and his steel industry was forced to pay the remaining cost.[46] 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.[46] 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.[46] This
radical move did had positive impact on country's economy and the economy progressed at an appropriate
level.[46] 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.[46]

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.[46] This semi-government and semi-
privatized mega project was completed in November 1997 at a cost of US$989.12 million.[46] 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.[46] 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.[46]

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, the Sindh Province did not benefit with
his industrialisation.[46] 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.[46] However, prime minister's reputation in Sindh was widely
damaged because of his focused on beautifying Lahore and Kashmir while he neglected other provinces.[46]
Sharif's industrialisation are also target by his opponents as it was focused and circled only on Punjab and
Kashmir, Sharif's native provinces.[53] His opponents argued that Sharif, as prime minister, obtained permits for
building factories for himself and his business.[46] Sharif is also blamed for expanding and finance Armed
Forces' secretive industrial conglomerate and, is also blamed for bribing the generals to protected himself.[53]
Sharif gave strong and vehement criticism to former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's socialist economics
policies, as citing as "lamentable state of Pakistan".[53] His privatisation policies were staunchly criticised by
former science advisor Dr. Mubashir Hassan, calling it Sharif's privatisation "unconstitutional".[53] 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.[53]
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.[54] 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
the Jinnah Antarctic Station and the Polar Research Cell. In 1992,
Pakistan became an Associate Member of Scientific Committee on
Antarctic Research which was signed by his Science Adviser Munir
Ahmed Khan at United Nations. As like Benazir, the ongoing nuclear
weapons and the energy program remained one of his top priority.[54] Sharif authorised the establishment of
Sharif countered the international pressure, and followed the same suit the Jinnah Antarctic Stationin 1991.
as Benazir's, and refused to make compromise to halt the program
despite the United States having offered a large economic aid to
Pakistan.[54] 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 build 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.

Nuclear 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."[55] On 26 November, Sharif authorised talks with the US to solve the
nuclear crises after the US had tightened its embargo on Pakistan, prompting Sharif to send his government's
Treasure Minister Sartaj Aziz to held talks on Washington.[55] It was widely reported in Pakistan that the US
Assistant Secretary of State Teresita Schaffer had told the Foreign Minister Shahabzada Yaqub Khan to halt the
uranium enrichment programme.[55]

In December, France's Commissariat l'nergie 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.[55] On
December, the financial embargo was placed and the country's economy felt a distress that prompted Sharif to
replace his Treasure minister.[55] 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.[55] In December 1990, IAEA allowed Pakistan to established CHASNUPP-I, signed with China; the
IAEA also gave approval of upgrading of the KANUPP-I in 1990.[55] 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.[55] Responding to US embargo, Sharif publicly announced that: "Pakistan
continued by Benazir as well.[55] Responding to US 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."[55]

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.[54] 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.[54] 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.[54] His policies to make the nuclear program for
economical use was also continued by Benazir Bhutto and Pervez Musharraf.[54]

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.[46] 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.[46] However,
mismanagement of these societies led to a collapse in which millions of Pakistanis lost money in 1992.[46] 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.[46]

1993 constitutional crisis

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.[56] 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 Sher 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. On 26 May
1993, Sharif returned to power after the Supreme Court ruled the Presidential Order as unconstitutional and
reconstituted the National Assembly on its immediate effect. The Court ruled, 101, that the president could
dissolve the assembly only if a constitutional breakdown had occurred and that the government's incompetence
or corruption was irrelevant.[56] Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was the only dissenting judge, he later became 13th
Chief Justice of Pakistan.[57]

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, in 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, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Shamim Allam and the Chief of Army
Staff General Abdul Vahied Kakar 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.[56]

Parliamentary opposition (199396)

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.[56]
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.[56]

Second term as prime minister (199799)

By 1996, the national economy had come under intense situation and
deadlock, and an economic failure was soon near.[58] 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.[58] 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.[58] Commenting on his victory, the Pakistan media and the people
of Pakistan hoped that Sharif would provide a conservative but a stable
US Defense Secretary William S. Cohen
government benefit for Pakistan as he promised earlier.[58] Besides
with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, no other leader, in the history of Pakistan, has
(1998)
enjoyed his level of popularity, and received the exclusive mandate
from all over the Pakistan to improve the all over conditions in Pakistan
at same time.[58] As commentary, 1997 election resulted to boost
Nawaz's popularity and was mandate onerous task to improve the country's economy.[58] Nawaz defeated
Benazir Bhutto with overwhelmingly voting numbers and it was the worst defeat of Bhutto and People's Party
since its inception.[58] 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 to take the oath.[58][59] Sharif was sworn as prime minister in the early morning of on 17 February to
serve a non-consecutive second term.[60] 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.[58]

Sharif served as Leader of the Opposition between 1993 and 1996 and led the Muslim League to a
supermajority in the National Assembly.[61] His government amendment the constitution to restrict's the
powers of the presidency to dismiss governments.[62] His second administration is notable for holding
Pakistan's first nuclear tests in response to neighbouring India's second nuclear tests as part of the tit-for-tat
policy.[63]

When Western countries suspended foreign aid, Sharif froze the country's foreign currency reserves to prevent
further capital flight, but this only worsened economic conditions.[64][65] With rising unemployment and record
foreign debt,[5]

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.[66] 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).

Nawaz Sharif, Prime minister of Pakistan, statement on September 7, 1997, [66]

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 of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
but, if and only if, India signed, ratified and, becomes a part of CTBT first.[66] 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.[54]

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.[64]

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.[67] 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.[68] When India tested its nuclear weapons the second time, it caused a great
alarm in Pakistan and pressure mounted to build on the Prime minister. On 15 May 1998, Sharif called and
chaired a National Security Council meeting in Prime minister Secretariat.[68] The Pakistan Armed Forces left
the matter to elected Prime minister, though Prime minister Sharif put the Pakistan Armed Forces on high-
alert.[68] The discussions went on for a few hours and encompassed the financial, diplomatic, military, strategic
and national security concerns.[68] At this sensitive meeting, it has had two important agendas; first, whether or
not Pakistan should conduct its nuclear tests 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 Sheikh Rasheed and Raja Zafarul Haq, were the first people to propose

explosion.!"
the tests, while, Sartaj Aziz who was the Treasure 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
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif ordering reserves of the country and the effect of inevitable economic sanctions
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission to
conduct Nuclear weapons tests, 1998, [64] 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.[68]

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.[68] 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.[67] 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.[68] Ahmed told the prime minister that the
decision to test or not to test was that of the government of Pakistan.[68] Dr. Ahmad also acknowledged that
PAEC was ready for the capability of carrying out the tests.[68] 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.[68] 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."[68] Initially,
have its say.... Mr. Prime Minister, take a [decision], then I give you the [g]uarantee of success."[68] 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.[69] Prime minister Sharif, at first, was hesitant towards the
nuclear test program and its economical turn out if the tests are ordered.[69] 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.[69]

On 18 May, Prime minister Sharif ordered PAEC to make preparation for the tests, but remain on stand-by for
the final decision.[68] In his own words, Sharif called dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and ordered him, "Conduct the
explosion!".[64] Simultaneously, Sharif's ordered, the XII Corps, Southern Naval Command, National Logistics
Cell, and No. 6 Squadron Globe Trotters were put on high-alert to provide the necessary support to the PAEC in
this regard.[64] 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.[69] A Boeing-737 airline from Pakistan
International Airlines was readily made available for PAEC scientists, engineers, and technicians to
Balochistan.[68]

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.[68] 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.[70] 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.[70]

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.[64][68] 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 1520 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.

Nawaz SharifPrime minister, on May 30, 1998, televised at PTV, [71]

Economical effects of tests

After weeks of anticipation, Pakistan surprised the world by conducting its own nuclear tests.[68] 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 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.[68]

Political effects of tests

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.[68] 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.[72] 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".[64] 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.[72] 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.[71]

On the day of atomic testing, the military and public policy makers, Today, we have settled
lawmakers and legislators, senior journalists, and the influential
members of the civil society at the Parliament strongly chaired for the a score and have

carried out six
tests, loud slogans and songs of "Pakistan Zindabad" (long live successful nuclear
Pakistan) were sung, and the tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was heavily tests"
paid by the parliamentarians from all political parties of Pakistan.[68]
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif announcing
The parliamentarians and the Leader of the Opposition Benazir Bhutto the tests on 30 May 1998,[64]
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.[71]
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.[64]

The Pakistan Academy of Sciences also thanked Sharif and his government for having been given the
opportunity to prove their capabilities.[72] As in return, Sharif established the National Center for Theoretical
Physics (NCTP) and inaugurated the Abdus Salam Museum in 1999.[72] 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.[73] 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 become
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.[72]

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".[71]

Sharif was awarded an Ig Nobel prize for his "aggressively peaceful explosions of atomic bombs".[74]

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

Sharif strengthened relations with the Muslim world, Turkey, and Europe.[75] The year he was elected, Sharif
made a state visit to Malaysia and Singapore where Sharif signed economic and free trade agreements with
both countries.[75] It was a trilateral trade bloc in South Asia and premiers of Singapore, Malaysia, and Pakistan
had successfully signed the agreement.[75] Following the agreement, the work on comprehensive framework to
enhance collaboration in defence, economic and private sector was launched and completed in 1998.[75] One of
the core issues was Malaysia's agreement on sharing its space technology to Pakistan.[75] Both Malaysia and
Singapore assured their support for Pakistan to join AsiaEurope Meeting.[75] However, it was not until 2008,
Pakistan and India became part of the treaty.[75]

In January 1998, Prime Minister Sharif paid a state visit to South

Korea, where he successfully signed bilateral and economical
agreements with South Korean President Kim Young-sam.[75] Sharif
also urged North Korea to make peace and improve its ties with South
Korea; his statement caused a diversion in PakistanNorth Korea
relations.[75] In April 1998, Sharif went on to visit Italy, Germany,
Poland, and Belgium to promote economic ties.[75] He said in Brussels
at an official reception, "We [Pakistan] [s]eek understanding and
cooperation with Europe".[75] He signed a number of agreements to
enlarge economic co-operation with Italy and Belgium, besides an Sharif in Washington D.C. with William
agreement with European Union (EU) for the protection of intellectual, S. Cohen in 1998
industrial and commercial property rights. [75] In February 1997, the
prime minister had meeting with Jiang Zemin, the Chinese president
and Li Peng, the Premier, for economic co-operation.[75] Two conferences were specially organised in Beijing
and Hong Kong to promote Chinese investment in Pakistan.[75]

However, Sharif's effort seemed to be wasted when Sharif ordered the nuclear tests in 1998. Following those
tests, the foreign policy of Pakistan was much in trouble position since its 1971 disaster.[75] Pakistan, at United
Nations, failed to gather any support from its allies.[75] Trade agreements were abrogated by Europe, United
States, and Asian bloc.[75] While Sharif was praised for carrying out tests domestically. Sharif was heavily
criticised for ordering internationally.[75] 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.[75] On 7 June 1998, Sharif
visited UAE for talks on the situation in South Asia after nuclear tests in the region.[75] He thanked the
government for their support after India conducted five nuclear tests on 11 and 13 May.[75] 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.[66] 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.[66] In 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.[66]

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.[76] Since both countries had ordered their nuclear tests, both
prime ministers proceeded towards maintaining peace and security.[77] 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.[77] On 1 February 1999, Prime Minister Sharif
conflicts, which became the basis of the Lahore Declaration.[77] 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 travelling 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.[77] On 21 February, both Prime ministers signed the bilateral agreement
with a memorandum of understanding to ensure the nuclear-free safety in South Asia.[77] 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.[77] 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.[77]
To some Western observers, this treaty was more like as of SALT Treaties signed by both superpowers, the
Soviet Union and the United States.[78] In July 2012, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz
Sharif said there 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.[79] In October 2013 Navaz Sharif had an official
meeting with US President Barack Obama at White House to discuss Pakistani's atomic issues.[80]

Constitutional amendment

In late August 1998, he proposed a law to establish a legal system based on the Islamic principles.[81] 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.[82][83] The National Assembly approved and passed the bill on 10
October 1998 by 151 votes to 16.[84] 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.[84] With passing these amendments, Sharif became the strongest prime minister that the country has
ever seen since its independence.[84] 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 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.[85] 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.[85] When legislators of
different parties took the case Supreme Court, Sharif was furious and frustrated with the actions of the Supreme
Court.[85] Sharif openly criticised Chief Justice Sajad Alishah, inviting a notice of contempt.[85] 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.[85]

Sharif manipulated the ranks of senior judges, deposing two judges close to Chief Justice.[85] The deposed
judges challenged Sharif's orders on procedural grounds by filing a petition at Quetta High Court on 26
November 1997.[85] The Chief Justice was restrained by his fellow judges from adjudicating in the case against
the Prime minister.[85] 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.[85] 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.[85] The Associate Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court,
Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui declared himself as acting Chief Justice.[85]

Attack on Supreme Court

Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah, however, continued to assert his authority and persisted in hearing Sharif's
case.[85] 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.[85] 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.[85] 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.[85] The prime
minister forced President Farooq Leghari to resign, and appointed Wasim Sajjad as acting president.[85] After
the president's removal, Sharif ousted Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah to end the constitutional crisis once and for
all.[85]

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.[86] 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.[87]

Policy on anti-terr orism

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.[58] 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.[58] 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

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.[23] 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'tat which removed him from office.[23] At the end of General
Wahied Kakar's three-year term in January 1996, General Jehangir
Karamat was appointed Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army.[23] His
term was due to end on 9 January 1999.[23] However, in October 1998
Sharif had a falling out with General Karamat over the latter's advocacy
of a "National Security Council".[23] Sharif interpreted this move to be
a conspiracy to return the military to a more active role in Pakistan
politics.[23] Prime minister Nawaz Sharif at the
Pentagon, 1998.
In 1999, after Sharif's removal, the National Security Council was
indeed established by his successor.[23] 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.[23] Sharif then also
appointed General Musharraf as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee despite Musharraf's lack of
seniority to Admiral Bokhari.[23] In protest, Admiral Fasih Bokhari resigned from his post as Chief of Naval
Staff.[23]
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.[88] In October 1998, Sharif forced and fired
General Karamat over the serious issues on National Security Council disputes.[23] The dismissal of General
Karamat was least popular decision in Sharif's prime ministerial ship, and his approval ratings plummeted.[88]
Military lawyers and civilian law experts saw this step as clear "violation" of Pakistan Constitution and as clear
violation of military justice code.[88] 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.

Mushahid Hussain, Media Minister in Nawaz Government, [89]

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.[89] 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.

Samina Ahmed, [89]

The relieve of General Karamat was a heated issue discussed even by his senior government ministers.[90] The
most-senior and the former Treasury minister Sartaj Aziz gave vehement criticism and showed opposition to
the Prime minister for making this move.[90] 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.[90]

However, after being persuaded by his younger brother and then (also It came to the
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
conclusion that in
relieving General
Jehangir Karamat,
shock in the media and the opposition, Aziz sent his recommendation Prime minister Sharif
to appoint either Lieutenant-General Ali Kuli Khan or Admiral Fasih had committed a
Bokhari as the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, to redress "blunder". He also
the injustice done to both officers.[90] failed to recognize that
despite his heavy
Prime minister Sharif took the recommendation but appointed General mandate, it was not
Musharraf as Chairman of Joint Chiefs after accepting the request of advisable for him to
Shahbaz Sharif. Appointing General Musharraf as Chairman of the dismiss two army
Joint Chiefs, plummeted his mandate in the public after headlines in chiefs in less than a
the media were made, opposition also gave intense criticism to Sharif year. In doing so he had
that he was unable to effectively countered or justified his actions to overplayed his hands

the public. His senior minister, Sartaj Aziz, also expressed displeased and effectively derailed
after marking that: Sharif "committed a blunder, failing to recognize the democratic process
that despite his heavy mandate, it was not advisable for him to dismiss for nine long years...
Sartaj Aziz, 2009, [90]
(two) army chiefs in less than a year. In doing so Sharif had made a Sartaj Aziz, 2009, [90]
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.[90]

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.[91] 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.[92] 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.[92]
Admiral's resignation was made public domain and Sharif accepted the resignation of Admiral Bokhari
onwards.[92]

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.[23] Confrontation with military began sometime in 1999, starting first with Admiral Fasih
Bokhari, when Admiral Bokhari lodged a powerful protest against the Kargil debacle and called for court-
martial of Pervez Musharraf in private television channels.[87][93]

During the Kargil War in 1999, Sharif claimed to have no knowledge of the planned attacks, saying that Pervez
Musharraf acted alone.[94] 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.[95] 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.[95] 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.[96] 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.[97]

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.[95] 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.[95]

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,[98] the greatest number of
combat-related casualties for the navy since the Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971[98] 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.[98]
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.[98] 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.[98] 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.[98] 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.[97][98]
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 and Chief of Army Staff, and martial law was
established throughout the country.[98]

Military coup
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 of Sindh 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'tat. However, the Captain of the A300 aircraft requested 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. Only one protest was held by Sardar Mohsin Abbasi in front of
Supreme Court on 17 October 1999 on the first hearing of Main Nawaz Sharif. That was the first strong
message. Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Sir Anjam Khan, Zafer Ali Shah & Sardar Mohsin Abbasi were the only
supporters left in first six months. 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, 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 begin.[99]

Trial of the prime minister

The military placed him on military trial for "kidnapping, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism and
corruption".[100][101] The military court quickly convicted him in a speedy trial and gave him a life
sentence.[101] 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 of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[100] 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.[102] Sharif's defence team blamed the military for intentionally providing their
lawyers with inadequate protection.[102] The military court proceedings were widely accused of being a show
trial.[103][104][105] Sources from Pakistan claimed that Musharraf and his military government's officers were in
full mood to exercise tough conditions on Sharif[106] 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.[106] 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 centred on a civilian helicopter,
which he said to have owned during the mid-1990s.[107]

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.[106] Pakistan, under Nawaz Sharif and Saudi
Arabia, under King Fahd, enjoyed extremely close business and cultural relations that is sometimes attributed
as special relationships.[106] Amid pressure exerted by the US President Bill Clinton and King Fahd, the
military court avoided the award of a death sentence to Sharif.[106] 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.[106] Under an agreement facilitated by
Saudi Arabia, Sharif was placed in exile for the next 10 years and through the Saudi Arabian Airlines.[106]
Sharif agreed not to take part in politics in Pakistan for 21 years. He has also forfeited property worth
$8.3 million (5.7 million) and agreed to pay a fine of $500,000.[108] Sharif travelled to Jeddah where he was
received by the Saudi officials and taken to a residence managed and controlled by the Saudi government.[106]
At Jaddah, the Saudi Arabian government gave Sharif a loan to establish a steel mill and Sharif bought land
where he established the iron-steel mill foundry that is worth millions of dollars.[106] 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.[109]

1999 tax evasion scandal

The prosecution accused Sharif of evading federal tax on the purchase of a helicopter worth US$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 US$400,000 on grounds of tax evasion, and he was
sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.[107]

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.[110][111]

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.[112]

On 10 September 2007, Sharif returned from exile in London[112] to Islamabad. He was prevented from leaving
the plane and he was deported to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia within hours.[113] His political career appeared to be
over.[60]

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.[114] He attempted to convince Saudi Arabia to prevent Sharif from returning
until after the elections in January 2008.[114] The political role of Sharif returned to the fore after Benazir
Bhutto's return a month earlier.[114] 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.[114]

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.[115] After an 11-
hour procession from the airport, he reached a mosque where he offered prayers as well as criticism against
Musharraf.[116] 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.[115]

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.[117] For the elections, he campaigned for the restoration of the independent
judges removed by emergency government decree and Musharraf's departure.[118][119]

Bhutto's assassination led to the postponement of the elections to 18 February 2008.[120] 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.[120] Sharif condemned
Bhutto's assassination and called it the "gloomiest day in Pakistan's history".[121]

Between Bhutto's assassination and the elections, the country faced a rise in attacks by militants.[122] Sharif
accused Musharraf of ordering anti-terror operations that have left the country "drowned in blood."[122]
Pakistan's government urged opposition leaders to refrain from holding rallies ahead of the elections, citing an
escalating terrorist threat.[122] 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.[122]

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.[123] 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.[124] Zardari and Sharif would later create a coalition government that ousted Musharraf.

In opposition (20082013)
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.[125] Sharif won much
public support for his uncompromising stand against Musharraf and for his insistence the judges be
reinstated.[125] 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.[126]

By-elections

In the June 2008 by-elections, Sharif's party won 91 National Assembly seats and 180 provincial assembly
seats in the Punjab.[127] The Lahore seat election was postponed because of wrangling over whether Sharif was
eligible to contest.[125][128]

Musharraf impeachment

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.[129] It included Mr Musharraf's first seizure of power in
1999at the expense of Nawaz Sharif, the PML(N)'s leader, whom Mr
Musharraf imprisoned and exiledand his second last November,
when he declared an emergency as a means to get re-elected
president.[130] The charge-sheet also listed some of Mr Musharraf's
contributions to the "war on terror".[130]
Nawaz Sharif with Hillary Clinton in
2010.
On 11 August, the National Assembly was summoned to discuss
impeachment proceedings.[131] 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.[132]

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.[133]

Lawyers movement

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.[130] Sharif had championed the cause of the judges since their dismissal.[43] 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.[43] Zardari feared that Chaudhry would undo all edicts instated by Musharraf including an
amnesty that he had received from corruption charges.[43]

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.[43] 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.[134] Zardari attempted to place Sharif under house arrest
on 15 March 2009,[43] but provincial police disappeared the same day
from his house after an angry crowd gathered outside. The Punjab Long March led by Nawaz Sharif
Police decision to free Sharif from confinement was very likely in moving through Ferozepur Road,
response to an army command. [43] Sharif, with a large contingent of Lahore.
SUVs, began leading a march to Islamabad but ended the march in
Gujranwala.[43] 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".[43] 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 the SC verdict, the PML(N) had no other choice but to opt to support this
movement. "[135]

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.[136]

2013 Pakistan general election

KhanSharif 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.[138]
"It is only through your vote that you can bring change for
prosperity, to strengthen the country's borders, end terrorism,
improve education, and get land reforms and put Sindh and
Pakistan on a path to progress."
Nawaz Sharif[137]
From 26 April 2013, in the run up to the elections, both the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
started to criticise 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.[139] 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.[140][141] 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.[142] 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.[143]

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 motorways and also begin construction of high-speed rail
which will carry Shinkansen-style bullet trains which will stretch from Peshawar to Karachi.[144] He also
promised to construct a third port in Keti Bandar on the southern coast of Thatta District.[145] Just prior to his
election victory, Sharif confirmed he had a long phone conversation with Indian prime minister Manmohan
Singh, in a hint at a desire to improve relations between the two countries.[146]

2013 election results

On 11 May 2013, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) won 126 seats in the
National Assembly. 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 Sharif addressing a rally atSangla Hill.
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.[147]

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.[6]
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.[148]

On 27 June 2014, PTI's chairman Imran Khan announced that they would go for a long marchnaming 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.[149] 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."[150] PTI started their march from
Lahore on 14 August and they reached to Islamabad on 16 August.[151] The PTI's lawmakers announced their
resignation from the National Assembly, and the Punjab and Sindh assemblies.[152] However government
leaders were trying to negotiate a settlement with Khan and his party's backers to break what had become a
political deadlock.[153]

Third term as Prime Minister (2013 2017)

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.[154]

Domestic policy

Social policy

Unlike Sharif's previous two governments which were underpinned by

social conservatism, Sharif's third term is credited to be one of social
centrism.[155][156][157] He called the future of Pakistan as one
underpinned as an "educated, progressive, forward looking and an
enterprising nation".[158] In January 2016, he also moved to back
Punjab Government's policy of banning Tablighi Jamaat from preaching
in educational institutions and in February 2016 he enacted a law that
provides for a helpline for women to report abuses by their husbands
and others despite the criticism of conservative religious parties.[159]
US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry shakes
hands with Sharif in 2016, at the
On 29 February 2016, his government hanged Mumtaz Qadri who shot
InterContinental Hotelin Davos.
dead Salman Taseer in 2011 over his opposition to blasphemy laws.[160]
According to BBC News, the move to hang Qadri is an indication of
government's growing confidence in taming the street power of
religious groups.[161] To the disliking of religious conservatives, he promised that the perpetrators of honour
killing's will be 'punished very severely'.[162] On 9 March 2016, The Washington Post claimed that Sharif is
defying Pakistan's powerful clergy by unblocking access to YouTube, pushing to end child marriage, enacting a
landmark domestic violence bill, and overseeing the execution of a man who killed Salman Taseer for
criticising the blasphemy law.[163][164] On 28 March 2016 Sunni Tehreek led protests of nearly 2,000 Islamic
fundamentist protesters staged a three-day long sit-in at the D-Chowk in Islamabad against the execution of
Mumtaz Qadri. They demanded that the Sharif government accepts their demands, which included the
implementation of Shariah in the country and declaring Mumtaz Qadri a martyr.[165] In response, Sharif
addreased the nation claiming that "let it be clear that those spreading outrage, fanning the fire of hatred,
inciting sectarianism and creating problems for citizens will without a doubt be dealt with by means of
law."[166]

On 16 March 2016, Sharif's government declared

Nation's future lies in democratic, liberal Pakistan where thethe Hindu festivals Diwali and Holi, and the
private sector thrives and no one is left behind Christian festival of Easter, as public holidays,
Nawaz Sharif[167] Time Magazine called the step as a "significant
step for the country's beleaguered religious
minorities."[168] On 6 December 2016, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the renaming of
Quaid-i-Azam University's (QAU) physics centre to the Professor Abdus Salam Center for Physics. Sharif also
announced that Professor Abdus Salam Fellowship will be established which will include five annual fully
funded Pakistani PhD students in the field of Physics.[169] In response, the Council of Islamic Ideology crtised
Sharif's move claiming that "changing the department's name would not set the right precedent."[170]

On 5 January 2017, Sharif stressed the need for operation 'Zarb-e-Qalam' to fight the extremism and intolerance
in the society through the power of "writers, poets and intellectuals."[171] Addressing to the Pakistan Academy
of Literature, Sharif said that "in a society where flowers of poetry and literature bloom, the diseases of
extremism, intolerance, disunity and sectarianism are not born," Sharif also announced a Rs. 500m endowment
fund for the promotion of art and literary activities in Pakistan.[172] On 9 January 2017, the government denied
visas for international preachers for the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Lahore. Jamia Binoria criticised the
Sharif government's decisions.[173]
On 11 March 2017, Sharif in an address at Jamia Naeemia urged Islamic scholars to spread the true teachings
of Islam and take a firm stand against those who are causing disunity among Muslims. Sharif called for a
"progressive and prosperous Muslim world," asking that "religious scholars to come forward take the war
against these terrorists to its logical end."[174]

Economic policy

Overview
Fiscal Year GDP growth Inflation rate
Sharif inherited an economy crippled with many challenges including 201314[175] 4.14%[176] 8.5%[177]
energy shortages, hyperinflation, mild economic growth, high debt and 201415 4.24% 4.8%[178]
large budget deficit. Shortly after taking power in 2013, Sharif won a
$6.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to avoid a 201516 4.5%[179] 5.1%[178]
balance-of-payments crisis. Lower oil prices, higher remittances and 201617 5.2%[180]
increased consumer spending are pushing growth toward a seven-year
high of 4.3 percent in the fiscal year of FY2014-15.[181]

Asian Development Bank tributes gradual growth in economy to the continued low prices for oil and other
commodities, the expected pick-up in growth in the advanced economies, and some alleviation of power
shortages.[182] However, the sovereign debt of Pakistan has increased dramatically, with total debts and
liabilities swelled to Rs. 22.5 trillion (or $73 billion) by August 2016.[183] Sharif administration also issued a
five-year $500-million Eurobond in 2015 at the interest rate of 8.25% and in September 2016, it also raised
$1 billion by floating Sukuk (Islamic bonds) at an interest rate of 5.5%.[184]

The Sharif administration has either signed, or is negotiating FTA's to expand trade liberalisation.

Turkey: Turkey-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement

South Korea: South Korea-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement
Iran: Iran-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.[185]
Thailand: Thailand-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.
Malaysia: Pakistan-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Expansion.

FY 201314

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.[186]
Sharif along with his cabinet members
Pakistan's GDP growth rate for FY 20122013 was 3.3%, that was Barjees Tahir and Saira Afzal Tarar.
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[187] 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.[188][189][190]

However, in FY 20132014 Pakistan received foreign direct investment of $750.9 million,[191] which is 12.9%
less than the amount that the country received in the corresponding preceding fiscal year.[192] 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.[193]
 The economy has since

It is striking that reforms have continued despite
disruptive domestic political challenges over the last year, shown signs of
and heightened security threats from Islamist terrorism. reviving, though
growth is barely
Moody's Investors Service on March 16, 2015, keeping up with the
[195] country's birthrate. The
IMF this month
acknowledged a
On 9 April 2014, World Bank claimed that Pakistan's economy is at a tentative turnaround,
turning point, growth recovery is underway, with projected GDP especially in the large-
growth approaching four percent, driven by dynamic manufacturing scale manufacturing
and service sectors, better energy availability, and early revival of and services sectors. It
investor confidence. Inflation is steady at 7.9%. The fiscal deficit is raised its forecast for
contained at around six percent of GDP due to improved tax collection economic growth in the
and restricted current and development expenditure. The current fiscal year ending 30 to
account deficit remains modest, at around one percent of GDP, 3 June.1% from its
supported by strong remittances and export dynamism, and the previous estimate of
external position is slowly improving since monetary and exchange 2.8%. The government

rate policies switched gear towards rebuilding reserves last is more optimistic,
November.[196] expecting growth of
some 4.4%.
On 4 July 2013, the IMF and Pakistan reached a provisional agreement Wall Street Journal in March 2014, [194]
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.[197] 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.[198]

FY 201415

Pakistan's economic expansion for financial year (FY) 2015, which ended on 30 June 2015, was led by services
as growth in manufacturing slowed. Industrial growth was hobbled by a slowdown in large-scale manufacturing
to 3.3% owing to continued power shortages and weaker external demand. The resilience of small-scale
manufacturing and construction sustained industrial growth at 3.6%. Agriculture growth remained modest at
2.9%. Private fixed investment slipped to equal 9.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 10.0% a year
earlier because of continuing energy constraints and the generally weak business environment that has
depressed investment for several years.[182]

On 25 March 2015, Moody's Corporation upgraded Pakistan's dollar bonds rating one notch from stable to
positive.[199] Asian Development Bank projected 4.2% economic growth for the current financial year 201415
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.[200]

On 3 May 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 stock market 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 57% a year if
it is markedly to cut poverty-at the last count, nearly a quarter of Pakistanis were below the poverty line.[201]

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.[202] 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.[203]

FY 201516

Pakistan's GDP is projected by the World Bank to grow by 4.5%. In its South Asian Growth report, the World
Bank said, "In Pakistan, gradual recovery to around 4.5 per cent growth by 2016 is aided by low inflation and
fiscal consolidation. Increases in remittances and stable agricultural performance contribute to this outcome.
But further acceleration requires tackling pervasive power cuts, a cumbersome business environment, and low
access to finance. "[204] In FY2016, the current account deficit has widen marginally due to increase in trade
deficit.[205] Nevertheless, exports are expected to increase only slightly after 2 years of stagnation,[182] as
manufacturing continues to suffer under energy shortages and low cotton prices saw only a modest
increase.[206]

During a trip to Pakistan on 10 February 2016, World Bank Group's

president Jim Yong Kim applauded the economic policies of the
government, he claimed that Pakistan's economic outlook had become
more stable.[207] On 10 March 2016, All Pakistan Textile Mills
Association claimed that 24-hour gas supply to Punjab's textile mills is
expected to increase output of the regions textile industry.[208] On 19
March 2016, Sharif approved a new automobile policy, which offers tax
incentives to new entrants to help them establish manufacturing units
and compete effectively with the three well-entrenched assemblers. A
Sharif at a trilateral meeting withJoe
major incentive for the new investors is the reduced 10% customs duty
Biden on sidelines of the World
on non-localised parts for five years against the prevailing 32.5%. For Economic Forum in Switzerland.
existing investors, the duty will be slashed by 2.5% to 30% from the
new fiscal year 201617.[209]

On 8 April 2016, the government on lobbying of international development groups introduced a new
methodology for measuring poverty which increased the poverty ratio from 9.3% to 29.5%. The new poverty
line is equal to Rs. 3,030 per adult per month, up from Rs. 2,350.[210] On 12 April 2016, a Pakistan Institute of
Legislative Development and Transparency survey claimed that the quality of governance has improved, the
weakest performance has been under transparency.[211] On 14 April 2016, Fred Hochberg, head of the Export
Import Bank of the United States visited Pakistan and claimed that he "sees a lot of opportunities to expand its
exposure to Pakistan."[212]

On 9 May, World Bank's Pakistan Development Report claimed that current account is in a healthy position
where in the preceding few months it has shown a surplus compared to deficit. However at the same time, the
report claimed that Pakistan's export competitiveness has diminished due to protectionist policies, poor
infrastructure, and high transaction costs for trade. Consequently, Pakistan exports-to-GDP ratio is declining for
the last two decades. It has reduced from 13.5% in 1995 to 10.5% in 2015.[213]

FY 201617

On 15 June 2016, MSCI upgraded Pakistan from a Frontier Markets status to that of Emerging Markets
status.[215][216] According to the BlackRock the up-gradation, is "In our view this is a validation of the
substantial positive macro-economic changes that Pakistan has witnessed over recent years."[217] The Business
Times estimated that it will generate foreign capital inflows of about
$475 million by the middle of 2017.[218][219] On 11 July 2016, the BMI
Research report named Pakistan as one of the ten emerging markets of
the future. The report projected that Pakistan will develop as
manufacturing hub over the coming years, with the textile and
automotive sectors posting the fastest growth.[220][221] On 15
September 2016 Pakistan officially become a signatory of the OECD's
Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters aimed
at curbing tax evasion.[222] In his 2016 book, The Rise and Fall of
Nations, Ruchir Sharma termed Pakistan's economy as on a 'take-off'
stage and the future outlook till 2020 has been termed 'Very Good'. On 1 November 2016, Pakistan and
Sharma termed it possible to transform Pakistan from a "low-income to China kicked off first trade activities
a middle-income country during the next five years."[223] under the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor project.[214]
On 24 October 2016, months after the Sharif government concluded a
$6.4 billion three-year programme, the International Monetary Fund
managing director Christine Lagarde visited Pakistan, during which she maintained Pakistan is now "certainly
out of economic crisis", she added that however continued efforts are needed to bring more people into the tax
net and ensure that all pay their fair share.[224] The 2017 Ease of doing business index recognised Pakistan as
one of the top ten economies globally making the biggest improvements in their business regulations. Pakistan
jumped four ranks from its position last year from 148th to 144th out of 190 countries.[225]

On 31 October 2016, Standard & Poor's, by citing improved The economy is now
policymaking resulting in improved macroeconomic stability, raised
Pakistan's rating to B from B-. It also revised upward its forecast of
average annual GDP growth to five per cent over 20162019 from its
more resilient, and
further steps have been
set in motion to support
earlier estimate of 4.7 per cent.[226] In response to S&P's upgrade,

higher, private sector-
PSX's benchmark-100 index posted its largest gain in history, led, and inclusive
increasing 1,406.03 points (or 3.52%) over a single day.[227] growth.
Christine Lagarde on October 24, 2016,
On 1 November 2016, hundreds of Chinese trucks loaded with goods Ref
rolled into the Sost dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan as the first shipment of
ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor.[228] On 3 November 2016, the Sharif government announced that Renault
is expected to start assembling cars in Pakistan by 2018, a source earlier on 6 May 2016 had told Reuters that
Pakistan was under consideration for new production investment.[229][230] On 7 November 2016, Bloomberg
News claimed that the economy is expected to grow around five percent annually for the next three years and
claimed that "Pakistan is on the verge of an investment-led growth cycle."[231]

On 15 November 2016, Audi, in a letter to the Board of Investment, expressed interest in setting up an
assembly plant in Karachi with an investment of $30 million.[232] On 10 January 2017, The Economist
forecasted Pakistan's GDP to grow at 5.3% in 2017, making it the fifth fastest growing economy in the world
and the fastest growing in the Muslim world.[233][234] On 17 January 2017, Sharif travelled to attend the World
Economic Forum where he held meetings with Antnio Guterres, Stefan Lfven, Ranil Wickremesinghe and
Doris Leuthard.[235] He also attended a seminar hosted by The Abraaj Group, Investing in Pakistan: The New
Reality, with sixty management executives of MNCs aimed at attracting the foreign direct investment. Among
the attendees included Jay Collins of Citigroup, Paul Polman and Michael Rennie of McKinsey.[236][237] On
Febuaray 6th, 2017, Tyler Cowen writing for Bloomberg termed Pakistan as the most "underrated economy in
the world."[238] On 16 May 2017, a CPEC document published by Dawn stated that CPEC "includes
penetration of most sectors of Pakistan's economy as well as its society by Chinese enterprises and
culture."[239]

Privatization
Wall Street Journal reviewed Pakistan's privatisation plans on 25
September 2013 in an article published, WSJ reported that Islamabad
plans 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
Sharif chairing Pakistan-Britain Energy
further 1.5 trillion rupees over five years.[240] The privatisation process
Dialogue and Investment Conference in
will be led by a 15-member privatisation commission headed by London.
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.[241]

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. In February 2016, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) is to be
converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL) to make
way for privatisation, however this trigged eight-day long union strike.[242] On 23 December 2016, a Chinese
consortium won the bid for a 40% stake in the PSX with an amount for $85.5 million.[243]

Communications and development

Upon assuming office, Sharif launched Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) which for FY 201415
consists of construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Dasu Dam, Faisalabad-Khanewal M-4 Motorway,
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus Service and Lahore-Karachi Motorway.[244] 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).[245]

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.[246] 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.

During the 201415 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 channelise funds and make developmental
interventions. The government provides budgetary allocations to those
projects and programmes that yield maximum benefits for the society in Prime Minister's Youth Programme
the shortest possible time.[247][248] While the government allocated a launched in 2013.
whooping Rs 73 billion for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,
including for its cornerstone development, the Lahore-Karachi
Motorway.[249]
Pakistan Vision 2025

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
Times reported.[250] 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.[251]

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.

Arab News on 18 August 2014, [252]

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.[254] During the groundbreaking ceremony, Sharif stated that
Pakistan will construct six nuclear power plants during his term in
office.[255] 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.[256] 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.[257] On 4 March 2017, Sharif's
administration approved the merger of
FATA reform FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[253]

On 3 March 2017, Sharif's cabinet approved a set of steps to be taken

for proposed merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a 10-
year Rs. 110 billion development reform package from FATA. Under the reform project, the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court will be extended to Fata.[258]

National security and defence policy

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.[259] On immediate basis, Sharif reestablished the National Security Council with Sartaj Aziz being its
National Security Advisor (NSA).[260] Furthermore, Sharif also reconstituted the Cabinet Committee on
National Security (C2NS), with military gaining representation in the country's politics.[261] According to the
political scientist and civic-military relations expert, Aqil Shah, Sharif finally did what exactly former chairman
joint chiefs General Karamat had called for in 1998.[261]
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 US 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 criticised 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.[262]

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.[263] 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."[264] 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.[265]

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.

Nawaz Sharif while addressing the Pakistan Naval War College, [266]

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.[267]

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.

Nawaz Sharif, [268]

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.[269] On 28 March 2016, a suicide attack by the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar at a park in Lahore killed
70 people on the evening of Easter Sunday.[270] Analysts believed that Sharif's desire to maintain stability in
Punjab led him to turn a blind eye towards groups operating in Punjab. Following the attack Pakistan rounded
up more than 5,000 suspects and arresting 216 people.[271]
Karachi operation

The Sharif government launched a Pakistan Rangers led operation on 5 September 2013 in Karachi aimed at
rooting out crime and terrorism from the megalopolis. The first phase ended on 10 August 2015 and the second
phase started on 14 August 2015. During the first phase, ranger's claimed to have conducted 5,795 raids during
which they had apprehended 10,353 suspects and recovered 7,312 weapons and 34,8978 rounds of ammunition.
Prominent among the raids conducted were the ones on MQM headquarters Nine Zero and the offices of Sindh
Building Control Authority (SBCA). The first phase also saw a total of 826 terrorists, 334 target killers, 296
extortionists arrested during this period. The Rangers also expanded their sphere against kidnappers, arrested
82 abductors and securing the release of 49 people from their captivity. The report further claimed that target
killing in the city had dropped drastically by over 80%.[272][273][274] On 23 August 2016, officials claimed that
they had arrested 654 target killers affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) armed wing since
4 September 2013.[275]

Operation Zarb-e-Azb

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.[276] The operation was formally
launched on 15 June 2014 after the Sharif administration prepared for a three-
front operation:[277] isolating targeted militant groups, obtaining support from
the political parties and saving civilians from the backlash of the
operation.[277] The 2014 Wagah border suicide attack has been the deadliest
retaliation against the Operation so far.[278]

Foreign policy

Neighboring countries

Sharif upon taking oath as the Prime Minister launched 'peaceful

neighbourhood' initiative to improve ties with neighbouring countries of Sharif at the conference on
India, Afghanistan, Iran and China.[279] On 12 May 2014, Sharif met Iranian Afghanistan in London.
President Hassan Rouhani amid tensions between the two neighbours
following the kidnapping in February 2014 of five Iranian soldiers by
extremists who took them across the border into Pakistan.[280]

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.

Nawaz Sharif while addressing the 18th SAARC summit, [281]

On 27 October 2016, Sharif hosted the 15th ministerial meeting of CAREC proposed Open Skies Agreement
between the countries.[282]

China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was the first world leader to visit Pakistan and congratulate Sharif on his victory
in 2013 elections,[283] 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 $1520 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 in Balochistan,
Pakistan in a bid to address Beijing's concerns and execute the
investment plan in the province, which will get 38% of the funds.[284]

On 8 November 2014, Sharif led delegation to Beijing inked 20

agreements amounting to Chinese investment reportedly worth about
Xi Jinping, welcomed by eight JF-17s
$46 billion.[285] Sharif also announced Pakistan's help for China with
upon entering Pakistani airspace in 2015.
its fight against East Turkestan Islamic Movement.[286] On 24 June
2015 and again on 1 April 2016 China blocked India's move in the
United Nations to ban Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, the
Chinese action was in "consultation" with Pakistan.[287][288] On 25 June 2016, Pakistan become full member of
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.[289] On 4 September 2016, Pakistan's cabinet has given the go-ahead for
negotiating a long-term defence agreement with China.[290]

India

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 neighbours, he launched trade talks with
India with promise of liberalising trade relationship. Sharif met Manmohan
Singh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September
2013 however no major agreement was reached.[291] 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 liberalise trade however on 26 March 2014 The
Times of India reported that Pakistan military has pressurised Sharif to stop
any trade liberalisation with India.[292]

On 16 May 2014, Sharif telephoned Narendra Modi and congratulated him on Indian Prime MinisterNarendra
Modi with Prime Minister of
BJP's "impressive" victory in the general elections in India. During his
Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif.
conversation, Sharif invited Modi to visit Pakistan, becoming among the first
leaders to do so.[293] 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 co-operation in the field of trade.[294][295] 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',[296]

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.[297] On 20 November 2014,
Sharif blamed India for having an inflexible approach towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute.[298]
According to Barkha Dutt during the SAARC Summit 2015, Sharif and Modi held a secret hour long meeting,
which was hidden from the media.[299] On 10 December 2015, in a major breakthrough, Pakistan and India
announced that they were resuming the dialogue on outstanding issues, ending a two-year long stalemate, the
decision came during Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad to attend the Heart of Asia ministerial
conference.[300] On 1 April 2015, Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Lahore to meet Sharif on his
birthday, his first visit to Pakistan.[301] Modi and Nawaz held a brief meeting at the latter's Raiwind Palace.
This was the first time an Indian premier visited Pakistan in more than a decade. Modi also attended wedding
ceremony of Sharif's grand daughter.[302][303]
On 25 March 2016, Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced that they have arrested an Indian
naval intelligence officer working for Research and Analysis Wing.[304] The person named Kulbushan Yadav
was allegedly involved in financially supporting terrorists and also confessed to his involvement in Karachi
unrest.[305] The same day through a statement the India's Ministry of External Affairs claimed that the
individual has no link with government since his premature retirement from Indian Navy.[306] India also
demanded consular access for him.[307][308] On 29 March 2016, Sharif government released a six-minute video
of Yadav apparently confessing to RAW's involvement in the country.[309][310] On 1 April 2016, Pakistan
confirmed that security agencies have arrested several suspects who are believed to be working for the India's
R&AW.[311]

2016 Indian Kashmir unr est

Relation's between India and Pakistan escalated with the killing of

Burhan Wani by Indian security forces on 8 July 2016.[312] After his
killing, anti-Indian protests started in all 10 districts of the Kashmir
Valley. Protesters defied curfew with attacks on security forces and
public properties.[20] [21] The unrest led to a standstill in bilateral
relations. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of
backing unrest in Kashmir.[313] The tension's reached a boiling point on
when militants attacked an army base in the Indian-controlled side of A screenshot of 2016 Kashmir unrest.
Kashmir and killed 18 soldiers, setting off a war of words between
Pakistan and India.[314] Indian army military operations head
Lieutenant-General Ranbir Singh claimed that there was evidence the attackers were members of an Islamist
militant group in Pakistan.[315][316]

Addressing the UNGA session on 22 September 2016, Sharif demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact-
finding mission to investigate extrajudicial killing and brutalities perpetrated by security forces in Indian
occupied Kashmir.[317][318]

We demand immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners; an end to the curfew; freedom
for the Kashmiris to demonstrate peacefully; urgent medical help for the injured; and abrogation of
India's draconian laws

Nawaz Sharif

After Sharif's UNGA address, India's junior foreign minister M. J. Akbar criticised Sharif for glorifying Burhan
Wani.[319][320] Tension's between Pakistan and India further escalated with report's suggesting move of
moblisation of military equiqment by both sides.[321][322]

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.[323] During the visit Sharif and Ghani also watched a cricket match
between the two countries.[324] During the start of June 2016, cross-border shootings between Afghan and
Pakistani forces left three people dead after tensions escalated over Pakistan's construction of fence's across the
Durand Line.[325] On 20 June 2016, Pakistan completed the construction of a 1,100-kilometre-long trench
along Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan.[326]

United States
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 US-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 US 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
President Obama and Prime Minister
in 2011.[327]
Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan in 2014
On Pakistan's request the United States temporarily stopped drone
strikes in north-western Pakistan.[328] In March 2016, as one of his
many foreign policy successes, The United States Senate blocked a bid to derail the sale of F-16 Falcon's to
Pakistan by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, who continued to vow to block the use
of US funds to finance the deal.[329][330]

We will extend every help to Pakistan so that it can eliminate terror from its soil.

President Barack Obama remarks on a phone call after the 2016 Lahore suicide
bombing.[331]

On 21 September 2016, GOP Congressman's Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher moved a bill in the US Congress
to designate Pakistan as a 'State Sponsors of Terrorism'.[332] Three day's later, United States Senator John
McCain assured former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari that a bill currently before the US Senate for
branding Pakistan a "sponsor of terrorism" will not succeed. McCain emphasised that the legislation should not
be seen as a deterioration of the US-Pakistan relations since the sponsors of the resolution were a small
minority within the Senate.[333]

On 26 July 2016, U.S Senator John McCain travelled to Pakistan to meet civilian and military leaders and to
discuss counterterrorism efforts in the region. In an OpEd for the Financial Times, McCain called upon US and
Pakistani leaders not to "allow ambivalence and suspicion to fester". Adding that "common interests in
counterterrorism, nuclear security and regional stability are too important and too urgent." He also called the
Obama administration to "make clear its enduring commitment to Pakistan's stability and economic
growth."[334] McCain also visited Miramshah in North Waziristan.[335]

On 1 December 2016, Sharif called Donald Trump to congratulate on his election to White House. During the
conversation, Trump praised upon Pakistan's prime minister and its people. The statement released by Sharif's
office quoted Trump as terming Sharif as a "terrific guy", adding that Pakistan is a "fantastic country, fantastic
place."[336] Trump Tower put out a statement saying the two sides "had a productive conversation about how
the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future."[337] On 3 December 2016,
Dawn reported that a consensus US National Defence Authorisation Act for fiscal year 2017 is set to be
approved by the United States Congress which would recognise Pakistan as a key strategic partner and pledges
more than $900 million in economic and other assistance to the country, but the bill also conditions $450m
from this assistance to a certification from the US Defence Secretary that Pakistan is committed to fighting all
terrorist groups, including the Haqqani network.[338]

Europe

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.[339] 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.[340] On 11 November 2014, Sharif
visited Berlin where he met with the German Chancellor Angela
Merkel, according to Deutsche Welle, during the meeting Sharif argued
British Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hague
a case for more German investment particularly in the energy sector,
with Sharif in London.
but Merkel expressed wariness over the security situation in
Pakistan.[341]

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

Sharif meeting with Iranian President

Sharif is said to enjoy exceptionally close ties with senior members of
Hassan Rouhani in Saadabad Palace
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.[342][343] 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.[344] Sharif travelled 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'.[345]

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 co-operation but no troops for the
immediate future.[346] On 11 January 2016, Time claimed that Pakistan is caught between Iran and Saudi
Arabia. In their first foreign trips this year, a high level delegation including Adel al-Jubeir and Mohammad bin
Salman Al Saud travelled to Islamabad to seek Pakistan's inclusion in the 34-country "Islamic military
alliance", however Sharif struck a more conciliatory tone, suggesting that Islamabad was willing to play the
role of mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran.[347] On 19 January 2016, Sharifs of Pakistan (Nawaz Sharif
and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif) embarked on a peace mission to Riyadh and Tehran to try to reduce the
tensions between two countries which started with the execution of Sheikh Nimr.[348] On 16 March 2016, Zee
News, claimed that Saudi Arabia is creating a military alliance of Islamic countries on the lines of the NATO,
asking Pakistan to lead the proposed alliance.[349][350]

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 co-operation. Shoygu held in-depth talk
with Sharif, afterwards Sharif promised to promote a multi-dimensional relations with Russia.[351] The meeting
 came months after Russia had lifted an embargo on supplying weapons
and military hardware to Pakistan, starting with Mil Mi-24
helicopters.[352] As a sign of improving ties, on 23 September 2016
Russian forces arrived in Pakistan to participate in joint military
exercises.[353]

Public image
Sharif with Vladimir Putin.
Writing for The Guardian in 2013, Jon Boone termed Sharif's "desire
for improved diplomatic and trade relations with India and a reduced
role of the army in national life has won over some liberal-minded Pakistanis who were once suspicious of the
religious leanings of a man who tried to introduce Sharia Law in the late 90s before a military coup sent him
into exile in Saudi Arabia".[354] In another column, The Guardian described Sharif's first two terms in the
1990s as "(he) locked up journalists, tried to enact sharia law and sacked the supreme court" adding that "a
billionaire steel magnate, he was dogged by allegations that some of his wealth had come through kickbacks on
government contracts, illegal write-offs of loans and blatant tax evasion". Further adding that "but old foes and
longstanding friends say Sharif is a changed man" from the man who "went into politics in the late 1970s to
defend family interests after his father's metal factories were nationalised by the PPP".[355]

In March 2016, Tim Craig writing for The Washington Post, described Sharif's move away from social
conservatism as "the shift in tone can be traced to Sharif's ambitious economic agenda, the influence his 42-
year-old daughter has over him, and his awareness that Pakistan remains the butt of jokes, according to his
friends, senior government officials and analysts".[356] Afrasiab Khattak described Sharif's shift as "Sharif may
still be right-of-center, but he knows extremism is not good for business".[356] Sharif's advisor Miftah Ismail
described him as "a very religious guy", adding however "he is perfectly okay with other people not being
religious".[356] Writing for The Express Tribune in 2016, Fahd Hussain stated that Sharif will likely will face
"blowback from its natural allies among the clergy", adding that with "the bulk of the Punjab conservative voter
[remaining] in the Sharif camp", Sharif is eyeing for the "liberal, progressive, left-of-centre voters".[357]

Leftist Senator Raza Rabbani claimed that Sharif "has always had these rightwing leanings", adding that "the
temptation was there in the past to appease his rightwing Islamist constituency".[355] Mushahid Hussain Syed, a
former member of Sharif's cabinet, described Sharif's religious leanings as "he is quite a good Muslim in terms
of belief and basic rituals like prayer and going to Mecca" adding however, "in cultural terms he is quite
relaxed. He likes music and movies and has a good sense of humour. He is not your average type of serious,
sulking fundo."[355] Mohammed Hanif, writing in 2013, claimed that "if Sharif wasn't from the dominant
province Punjab, where most of the army elite comes from, if he didn't represent the trading and business
classes of Punjab, he would still be begging forgiveness for his sins in Saudi".[358]

Author Edward A. Gargan writing in November 1991 described Sharif's government as "bedeviled by gossip,
barraged by accusations of venality, castigated by the opposition and threatened by a final rupture of cordiality
with the United States".[359] The same year Najam Sethi described Sharif's government as "it is corrupt,
absolutely, astronomically corrupt, including the Prime Minister".[359] In 2009, The New York Times
commenting on Sharif's relationship with the U.S wrote that "Bhutto and her Pakistan Peoples Party were
considered more amenable allies for Washington" adding that "more nationalistic and religiously oriented, he
(Sharif) and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, have traditionally found common cause with the
religious parties".[360] Pervez Hoodbhoy described "Sharif as a reflection of (the) Pakistani society" adding that
"he is silent on what matters most: the insurgency. What we need is a leader."[360] Celia W. Dugger, writing in
1999, described Sharif's Raiwind Palace as "walls paneled in silken fabrics and rococo chairs laden with so
much gold leaf they looked like they belonged in the court of Louis XIV or a bordello", drawing comparison
between Sharif's lifestyle and that of the "Mughals".[361]

Criticism
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 the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PLM-Q) and Awami Muslim League
(AML), meant that pressure mounted on the Sharif government. Khan demanded the prime minister's
resignation for the government's inadequate response in addressing and resolving allegations that the 2013
general election was rigged.[362] Sharif claimed to have 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 were appointed to key state positions such as his brother as Chief
Minister, and for appointing relatives as Ministers in the federal government.[363][364][365] On 30 September
2014, Opposition leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, said that the Prime Minister may voluntarily recall mid-
term elections.[366][367]

On 24 April 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 Play media
scheduled, saying it was pressured by government authorities to do Voice of America reports on opposition
so.[368] Sharif officially condemned the killing however Dawn claimed protests against Nawaz Sharif in late
that there is a little chance her murderers will ever be brought to justice 2014.
given the recent history of impunity among those who target the
country's marginalised liberals.

On 20 April 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.[369] On 27 March 2016, around 2,000 far-
right protesters led by Sunni Tehreek staged a sit-in at D-Chowk in front of the parliament in Islamabad,
causing a partial halt to the capital city. The protestors demanded the implementation of Sharia in the country
and declaring Mumtaz Qadri a martyr. The protestors also burned down cars and city main public transit station
and injured journalists and bystanders.[370] The government on the 28th called in the army to control the law
and order.[371] By 29th the crowd had shrunk to 700 protestors, however the government remained reluctant to
use force against the protesters.[372] On 30 March 2016, the protesters ended their protest after government
assured not to amend in blasphemy laws.[373] On 7 April 2016, The Express Tribune in an editorial claimed that
Sharif's multibillion-rupee health insurance plan seems to be failing already because of poor planning, claiming
that the basic health infrastructure doesn't allow for such a plan.[374][375]

On 29 October 2016, Imran Khan began mobilising worker's to lockdown Islamabad until Sharif resign's and
face's a corruption inquiry. In response, Sharif government placed a citywide ban on gatherings and the arrested
hundreds of opposition activists accused of defying the ban. The government also arrested scores of Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf worker's and shut the motorway leading from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On 1 November, Khan
called off protest's after the Supreme Court said it would form a judicial commission to probe allegations
stemming from the "Panama Papers" leaks about the Sharif family's offshore wealth.[376] In the first week of
January, four Pakistani activists known on social media for their secular leftist views went missing this
week.[377]

The Economist, writing in January 2017, criticised Sharif's spending on infrastructure, it added that "Pakistan's
infrastructure is underused because the economic boom it was meant to trigger has never arrived." Talking
about the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor, the magazine wrote that "critics fear the country will struggle to
pay back the debt, especially if foreign-exchange earnings from exports continue to dwindle" further adding
that "It may not concern Mr. Sharif unduly if the next generation of roads is as deserted as the last."[378]
Wealth and conglomerates

The growth of Pakistan's industry, which occurred under President Ayub Khan during the 1960s[379], was
destroyed by the nationalisation program instituted by prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, to halt capital flight
from the country to Eastern Europe.[379] This program included nationalisation of Ittefaq Group and many
other large enterprises.[380]

Although the steel mill was returned to the Sharif family in 1980, havoc had already wrought.[379] In 2005, the
Daily Pakistan reported that the Sharif family are the fourth wealthiest family in Pakistan, with an estimated
net worth of US$1.4 billion.[381] The Sharif family plays a large role in the industrial growth of Pakistan and is
expanding its steel business by employing state-of-the-art technology in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the Middle
East.[382][383] In 2011, Sharif's assets were worth Rs 166 million, which increased to Rs 1.82 billion by
2013.[384] In 2012 his net income was Rs. 12.4 million ($1.24 million)[385] He was one of five billionaires
elected to Pakistan's National Assembly in 2013.[386] In 2015, his declared assets slightly decreased to Rs.
1.75 billion ($17.5 Million).[387]

2016 Panama Papers leak

According to the Panama Papers, documents leaked in 2016 from law firm Mossack Fonseca that disclose
client information, Nawaz Sharif's family holds millions of dollars worth of property and companies in the UK,
and around the world.[388] The Mossack Fonseca documents do not name either Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
or his younger brother, Punjabi Chief Minister Shebaz Sharif. They do however link in-laws of Shebaz Sharif
and children of Nawaz Sharif to offshore companies.[389][390]

The documents reveal that Nawaz Sharif's children Hassan, Husein and Maryam have multiple properties in the
United Kingdoms through a set-up of at least four offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands. Mossack
Fonseca records tie Nawaz daughter Maryam Nawaz and her brothers Hussein and Hassan to four offshore
companies, Nescoll Limited, Nielson Holdings Limited, Coomber Group Inc., and Hangon Property Holdings
Limited.[391] The companies acquired at least six upmarket real estate properties in 20062007 near London's
Hyde Park.[392] The real estate was used as collateral for loans of up to $13.8 million, according to the Panama
Papers documents.[393] The prime minister's children say the money came from the sale of a family business in
Saudi Arabia.[393] Maryam Nawaz tweeted denial of wrongdoing, adding that she did not own "any
company/property abroad", except as a trustee in a brother's corporation, "which only entitles me to distribute
assets to my brother Hussain's family/children if needed".[394] The leaked documents name her the sole
beneficial owner of Nescoll, created in 1993, and Nielson, first registered in 1994. The two companies
subscribed to Mossack Fonseca services in July 2006. The Panama Papers name Maryam as the joint owner
with her brother Hussain of Coomber Group. Mossack Fonseca was managing Nescoll, Nielsen Holdings, and
Coomber Group when the three companies obtained a 7 million mortgage from the Swiss bank, Deutsche
Bank (Suisse) SA and purchased four flats in Avenfield House, at 118 Park Lane in London.

Hassan, the other brother, whose name is sometimes spelled "Hasan", bought Hangon Holdings and its stock in
2007 for 5.5 million; Hangon then bought property, financed through the Bank of Scotland, at One Hyde Park
in London, which a real estate agency calls "the finest building in England" and an architectural historian "an
oversized gated community"; 59 of the 76 apartments that had been sold by January 2013 were owned by
offshore shell companies.[395] Hassan also lists the Park Avenue address for an additional six companies
registered in the United Kingdom of which he is a director, according to the British business registry
Companies House. A seventh, Flagship Development, is listed at Stanhope House in Stanhope Place, near
Marble Arch.[396]

Samina Durrani, mother of Shebaz Sharif's second wife Aaliya Honey, and Ilyas Mehraj, brother of his first
wife Begum Nusrat Shahbaz, also figure in the documents. Habib Waqas Group/Ilyas Mehraj is listed as a
shareholder with 127,735 shares in Haylandale Limited, registered 24 July 2003 in the Bahamas. Mehraj denied
knowing anything about "any company whether incorporated in the Commonwealth of Bahamas or anywhere
else under the name Haylandale Ltd".[389] Rainbow Limited, the newest of the three offshore companies owned
by Samina Durrani, was registered 29 September 2010 in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).[389] Armani River
Limited, registered in the Bahamas on 16 May 2002, describes its assets as "property in London, which is not
currently rented".[389] Assets of Star Precision Limited, registered in BVI 21 May 1997 were reported as "cash
as the investment portfolio. We are also holding 1,165,238 shares in Orix Leasing Pakistan Limited."[389]
Hussain Nawaz, whose name sometines appears as Husein or Hussein, said his family won't impede any
investigation, and urged one of former president Pervez Musharraf as well.[397] The government on 15 April
announced an investigation by an inquiry commission of all Pakistanis named in the documents. Opposition
politicians said a judge, not a retired judge, should investigate. Various judges have already recused themselves.
In addition, on 19 April 2016 Army Chief General Raheel Sharif warned that across-the-board accountability is
needed.[398]

On 28 July 2017, the court announced its decision and disqualified Prime Minister from holding public office
as he had been dishonest in not disclosing his employment in the Dubai-based Capital FZE company in his
nomination papers.[399] The court also ordered National Accountability Bureau to file a reference against
Sharif and his family against corruption charges.[400][401][402][403]

Eponymous entities
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering & Technology
Nawaz Sharif Medical College
Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital Swat
Nawaz Sharif Park

See also
Conservatism in Pakistan
List of Pakistani politicians by net worth
List of Prime Ministers of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Panama Papers case (Pakistan)

References
1. "Pakistans prime minister is pushed out by the Supreme Court" (http://www.economist.com/news/asia/2
1725686-grounds-nawaz-sharifs-dismissal-set-worryingly-wide-precedent-pakistans-prime-minister).
The Economist. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
2. Ghosh, Palash (4 August 2013). "Pakistans Election: The Millionaires Versus The Billionaires" (http://w
ww.ibtimes.com/pakistans-election-millionaires-versus-billionaires-1178073). International Business
Times. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
3. Mehdi, Tahir (12 April 2013). "An overview of 1990 general elections: The game gets dirtier" (http://ww
w.dawn.com/news/802016/an-overview-of-1990-general-elections-the-game-gets-dirtier). Retrieved
12 September 2016.
4. Story of Pakistan. "Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif [Born 1949] (Part-II)" (http://www.storyofpakistan.c
om/person.asp?perid=P027&Pg=2). Story of Pakistan Directorate. Story of Pakistan (Part II). Retrieved
7 February 2012.
5. Story of Pakistan (1 June 2003). "Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif [Born 1949] (Part-IV)" (http://www.st
oryofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A088&Pg=3). Story of Pakistan Directorate. Story of Pakistan
(Part IV). Retrieved 7 February 2012.
6. "Nawaz Sharif's party gets majority in Pakistan Parliament" (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2
013-05-19/pakistan/39369640_1_pml-n-national-assembly-pakistan-tehrik-e-insaf). The Times of India.
19 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
7. "Nawaz Sharif to take office for third term as Pakistan PM" (http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-nawa
z-sharif-to-take-office-for-third-term-as-pakistan-pm-1844072). dna. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 8 January
2016.
 8. "Statistics show marked drop in terrorist attacks" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1282160). Dawn.
Pakistan. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
9. Dawn.com (22 February 2017). "Pakistan Army launches 'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad' across the country"
(http://www.dawn.com/news/1316332). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
10. "A liberal Nawaz Sharif" (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/01-Jan-2016/a-liberal-nawaz-sharif).
Daily Times. Pakistan. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
11. "Misinterpretations: Nawaz asked to pack his bags over liberal Pakistan The Express Tribune" (http://
tribune.com.pk/story/996458/misinterpretations-nawaz-asked-to-pack-his-bags-over-liberal-pakistan/).
The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
12. "GCR News China to invest $46bn in Pakistan's infrastructure" (http://www.globalconreview.com/ne
ws/china-invest-46bn-p2ak4ista0ns-infra0str8uct4u4re/). globalconreview.com. Retrieved 8 January
2016.
13. "Nawaz dragging Pakistan deeper into debt, says Bilawal The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/
story/1238876/burdening-nation-nawaz-dragging-pakistan-deeper-debt-says-bilawal/). The Express
Tribune. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
14. http://www.dawn.com/news/1313037
15. "Pakistan: Supreme Court hears Panama leaks case" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/pakistan-s
upreme-court-hears-panama-leaks-case-161101080340730.html). Al Jazeera. 1 November 2016.
Retrieved 24 January 2017.
16. "Maryam Safdar named in Panama Papers as beneficiary" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/mary
am-safdar-named-panama-papers-beneficiary-170123132820149.html). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 January
2017.
17. "Panama Papers case: PM gave contradictory statements, says SC" (http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/363
323-Panama-Papers-case-PM-gave-contradictory-statemen). Dunyanews.tv. 30 November 2016.
Retrieved 24 January 2017.
18. "PTI lawyer presents arguments in Panama Papers case" (http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/369465-PTI-la
wyer-presents-arguments-in-Panama-Papers-cas). Dunyanews.tv. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January
2017.
19. JIT (Joint Investigation Team): PM Nawaz Sharif appears in front of JIT for the investigation of Panama
Papers on 15 June 2017.
20. "Panama Papers case" (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Panama_Papers_case&oldid=7932222
79). Wikipedia. 2017-07-31.
21. "Pakistan's Sharif disqualified by court" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40750671). BBC News.
July 28, 2017.
22. "Nawaz Sharif" (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/538837/Nawaz-Sharif). Encyclopdia
Britannica on-line. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
23. Lieven, Anatol (2011). Pakistan: A Hard Country (https://books.google.com/books?id=fEZt49MVZIAC
&pg=PA244). PublicAffairs. p. 244. ISBN 978-1-61039-021-7.
24. Jaleel, Muzamil (6 June 2013). "As Nawaz Sharif becomes PM, Kashmir gets voice in Pakistan power
circuit" (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/as-nawaz-sharif-becomes-pm-kashmir-gets-voice-in-pakist
an-power-circuit/1125778/). The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
25. Lieven, Anatol (2011). Pakistan: A Hard Country (https://books.google.com/books?id=fEZt49MVZIAC
&pg=PA244). PublicAffairs. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-61039-021-7.
26. Baker, Raymond (2005). Capitalism's Achilles heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free-market
System (https://books.google.com/books?id=QL5GsSxljy0C&pg=PA82). John Wiley and Sons. pp. 82
83. ISBN 978-0-471-64488-0. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
27. "Nawaz Sharif's wife operated in Delhi" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Nawaz_Sharifs_wife_
operated_in_Delhi/rssarticleshow/2502914.cms). The Times of India. 30 October 2007. Retrieved
4 January 2011.
28. "Hamza the new deputy Chief Minister of Punjab" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1045496/hamza-fills-in-
for-shahbaz/). The Dawn Newspaper. 26 September 2013.
29. "PM Appoints Daughter as Chairperson of Youth Program" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2
-215819-Maryam-Nawaz-made-chief-of-PMs-Youth-Programme). The News International. 23 November
2013.
30. Iqbal, Abdullah (29 May 2004). "Wedding bells for Nawaz son, daughter" (http://gulfnews.com/wedding-
bells-for-nawaz-son-daughter-1.323632). Gulf News. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
31. "Nawaz Sharif's first speech as PM to be full of 'surprises' " (http://tribune.com.pk/story/556351/preparin
g-for-the-day-nawaz-sharifs-first-speech-as-pm-to-be-full-of-surprises/). The Express Tribune. 30 May
2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
32. "Sharif surfs the Net to catch up on news" (http://www.arabnews.com/node/223170). Arab News. 7
August 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
33. "IP project in jeopardy: US threatens curbs if Pakistan pursues Iran deal, says PM" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/586623/ip-project-in-jeopardy-us-threatens-curbs-if-pakistan-pursues-iran-deal-says-pm/). The
Express Tribune. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
34. "SC questions where Hassan Nawaz got money from to establish business right after completing studies -
The Express Tribune" (https://tribune.com.pk/story/1289967/sc-questions-hassan-nawaz-got-money-esta
blish-business-right-completing-studies/). 10 January 2017.
35. Pakistan A Country Study (https://books.google.com/books?id=0f4XYCTuMRoC&pg=PA250).
Kessinger Publishing. 2004. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-4191-3994-9. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
36. Ghauri, Irfan (6 June 2013). "Nawaz Sharif: A political history" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/559625/naw
az-sharif-a-political-history/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
37. Masood, Salman (27 May 2016). "Pakistan Leader Will Undergo Open-Heart Surgery for 2nd Time" (htt
ps://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/world/asia/pakistan-nawaz-sharif-open-heart-surgery.html). The New
York Times. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
38. Bokhari, Farhan (30 May 2016). "Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to undergo heart surgery in London" (http
s://next.ft.com/content/7f7d45d8-263b-11e6-83e4-abc22d5d108c). Financial Times. Retrieved 30 May
2016.
39. "Former CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry calls for appointment of acting PM to avoid crisis" (https://www.geo.tv/l
atest/106842-Former-CJP-Iftikhar-Chaudhry-calls-for-appointment-of-acting-PM-to-avoid-crisis). geo.tv.
Retrieved 30 May 2016.
40. Aminullah Chaudry (2009). The Army in Pakistan's Politics (https://books.google.com/books?id=pCiZiw
sUW9EC&pg=PA14). Hijacking from the Ground: The Bizarre Story of PK 805. p. 14.
41. Stephen Philips Cohen, Stanley Wolpert (2004). "The State of Pakistan: Bhutto's Economic
Experiments". The Idea of Pakistan (https://books.google.com/?id=-78yjVybQfkC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81
&dq=mahbub+ul+haq+and+Bhutto#v=onepage&q=mahbub%20ul%20haq%20and%20Bhutto&f=false).
Massachusetts, United States: The Brooklyn Institution. pp. 8286. ISBN 0-8157-1502-1. Retrieved
6 September 2012.
42. "Nawaz Sharif" (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/nawaz-sharif.htm). Retrieved
8 July 2010.
43. Pakistan: The Lion Unleashed (http://www.economist.com/node/13311048). The Economist (16 March
2009).
44. The Far East and Australasia, 2003 (https://books.google.com/books?
id=e5Az1lGCJwQC&pg=PA1166). London: Europa Publications. 2003. p. 1166. ISBN 978-1-85743-
133-9. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
45. Weintraub, Richard (1 December 1988). "Bhutto Likely To Be Named Premier Today; Pakistani
Opponent Drops Out of Race" (https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73646551.html?dids
=73646551:73646551&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+01%2C+1988&author=
Richard+M.+Weintraub&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Bhutto+Likely
+To+Be+Named+Premier+Today%3B+Pakistani+Opponent+Drops+Out+of+Race&pqatl=google). The
Washington Post. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
46. John, Wilson; Vikram Sood and Akmal Hussain (2009). "Pakistan's economy in historical perspective:
The Growth, Power and Poverty". Pakistan: the struggle within (https://books.google.com/books?id=XfI
-hEI8a9wC&printsec=frontcover). New Delhi and Washington, D.C.: Dorling Kindersly (Pvt) limited,
India and the Library of Congress. p. 220. ISBN 978-81-317-2504-7.
47. IJI was made & Funded By ISI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noqoI0tqLt4) on YouTube (24 July
2009). Retrieved 5 August 2012.
48. EPA, Pakistan Environmental Agency. "Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency" (http://www.environ
ment.gov.pk/aboutus/Brief-Pak-EPA.pdf) (PDF). Electronic Government of Pakistan. Electronic
Government of Pakistan and EPA. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
49. Shah, Mehtab Ali (1997). "Pakistan and Gulf Region". The foreign policy of Pakistan: ethnic impacts on
diplomac (https://books.google.com/books?id=7czT4fipTyoC&printsec=frontcover). New York City,
United States: I.B Taurus and Corporation Ltd. p. 280. ISBN 1-86064-169-5. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
50. Mir, Amir. "MQM shifts blame for 1992 operation from military to Nawaz" (http://www.thenews.com.p
k/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=24255&Cat=13&dt=9/2/2009). The News International. Retrieved
27 October 2011.
51. US Govt, United States Government (April 1994). "The Government of Nawaz Sharif" (http://www.coun
try-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9877.html). United States Government US Department of State :Case
Study. Retrieved 1 June 2012. "Benazir and the PPP, criticized Nawaz Sharif's efforts at privatization,
calling them the "loot and plunder" of Pakistan and saying his plan favored large investors and ran
roughshod over labor"
52. Press. "Business Oligarch of Pakistan" (http://richpaki.tripod.com/masterstroke.htm). Tripod nuclues.
Retrieved 1 June 2012.
53. Our Correspondent. "Nawaz has derailed politically: Mubashar" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrin
tDetail.aspx?ID=67479&Cat=5). Parliament Media Lounge. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
54. Kasmie, Atta-oul-. "Nuclear History: Zulfikar Bhutto's Programme under Nawaz, Benazir, Musharraf and
Gillani; an overview". Atta-oul-Kasmie at the Jang News Cell.
55. NTI (1990). "Nuclear Chronology" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101108072529/http://www.nti.org/e_r
esearch/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1990.html). NTI Publications. Archived from the original
(http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_1990.html) on 8 November 2010.
Retrieved 2 December 2011.
56. Dutt, Sanjay (2009). "1993 Elections". Inside Pakistan: 52 years oulook (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=QGzRA-3zxfsC&pg=PA267). New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. ISBN 81-7648-157-2.
57. Judges & Generals in Pakistan Vol-I by Inam R Sehri, [2012] pp. 15354; GHP Ltd UK
58. Akbar, M.K (1 January 1998). "Pakistan Under Navaz Sharif". ACTUAL ARTICLE TITLE BELONGS
HERE! (https://books.google.com/books?id=g6D8xkFgTwEC&pg=PA1). Pakistan Today. New Delhi,
India: Mittal Publications. p. 230. ISBN 81-7099-700-3.
59. Burns, John F. (6 November 1996). "With Goats and Gunfire, Pakistanis Cheer Bhutto's Fall" (https://ww
w.nytimes.com/1996/11/06/world/with-goats-and-gunfire-pakistanis-cheer-bhutto-s-fall.html). The News
York Times.
60. "Profile: Nawaz Sharif" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6959782.stm). BBC News. 12 March
2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
61. Story of Pakistan. "Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif [Born 1949] (Part-III)" (http://www.storyofpakistan.
com/person.asp?perid=P027&Pg=3). Story of Pakistan Directorate. Story of Pakistan (Part III).
Retrieved 7 February 2012.
62. Omar, Imtiaz (28 March 2002). Emergency Powers and the Courts in India and Pakistan (https://books.g
oogle.com.pk/books?id=o6-wZP7Tz8YC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=pakistan+13th+amendment&source=
bl&ots=6OniYyRltS&sig=yz8Byd6OyIjVv4vF-yf6o5lxdZE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjO07Cl2orP
AhUEOBQKHdiKDJAQ6AEIUzAK). Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN 904111775X.
63. Schaffer, Howard B.; Schaffer, Teresita C. (2011). "Pakistan's politicians". How Pakistan negotiates
with the United States: riding the roller coaster (https://books.google.com/books?id=axT9i-FhO0UC&pg
=PA103&dq=Jehangir+Karamat&hl=en&sa=X&ei=C7mrVP-3EY2xogTG3YHABw&ved=0CDgQuwU
wBA#v=onepage&q=Jehangir%20Karamat&f=true). Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace.
ISBN 1601270755. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
64. Sublette, Carey. "Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Program:1998: The Year of Testing" (http://nuclearweapon
archive.org/Pakistan/PakTests.html). Nuclear weapon archive and the Federation of Pakistan Atomic
Scientists and Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, United States. nuclearweaponarchive.org. Retrieved
1 November 2011.
65. Story of Pakistan. "Pakistan: A Nuclear power" (https://web.archive.org/web/20111104121828/http://ww
w.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A091&Pg=2). Archived from the original (http://www.storyo
fpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A091&Pg=2) on 4 November 2011.
66. NTI, Shahid Ahmed Khan. "Nuclear Chronology" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101108072216/http://
www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_2000.html). NTI publications. Archived
from the original (http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Pakistan/Nuclear/chronology_2000.html) on 8
November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2011. "Nawaz Sharif acknowledged his country's nuclear
capability on 7 September 1997"
67. Bureau Report (16 May 1998). "All aspects of N-test evaluated" (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studie
s/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/16May98.html#paki). Dawn Media's Dawn Wire Service. Retrieved
8 November 2014.
68. Azam, Rai Muhammad Saleh (June 2000). "When Mountains Move: The Story of Chagai" (https://web.a
rchive.org/web/20120401181303/http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/chagai.htm). The Nation.
Archived from the original (http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/chagai.htm) on 1 April 2012.
Retrieved 8 November 2014.
69. Hoodbhoy, PhD (Nuclear Physics), Pervez Amerali (23 January 2011). "Pakistan's nuclear bayonet" (htt
p://www.dawn.com/2011/02/16/herald-exclusive-pakistans-nuclear-bayonet.html). Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy,
Doctor of Philosophy (Nuclear Physics), Professor of Nuclear and High-Energy Physics at the Quaid-e-
Azam University and Senior academic research scientist at the National Center for Nuclear Physics. Dr.
Prof. Pervez Amerali Hoodbhoy and The Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
70. Shafik H. Hashmi (6 March 2006). "The Nuclear Danger in South Asia" (http://pakistanlink.org/Commen
tary/2006/March06/03/02.HTM). Pakistan Link. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
71. Our Staff Reporter (30 May 1998). "Politicians hail N-explosions" (http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studi
es/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/30May98.html#poli). DawnWireService. Retrieved 16 November
2011.
72. Qureshi, Natalya. "Pakistan goes nuclear". BBC.
73. Bhutto, Benazir. "Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998.". GEO Television.
74. "The 1998 Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony" (http://www.improbable.com/ig/miscellaneous/ig-98.html). Annals
of Improbable Research. 27 November 1998. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
75. Edward, Job. "Nawaz Sharif: Foreign Policy of Pakistan" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110929092418/
http://www.currentsocial.com/pakistan/nawaz-sharif-foreign-policy-pakistan.html). Current Social.
Archived from the original (http://www.currentsocial.com/pakistan/nawaz-sharif-foreign-policy-pakistan.
html) on 29 September 2011.
76. "Vajpayee, Sharif sign Lahore Declaration" (http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/21bus.htm). 21
February 1999. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
77. The Lahore Declaration (http://www.usip.org/files/file/resources/collections/peace_agreements/ip_lahore
19990221.pdf). (PDF) usip.org. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
78. Vajpayee drives across the border into Pakistan and history (http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/20bus
1.htm). Rediff.com (20 February 1999). Retrieved 5 August 2012.
79. Nawaz Sharif vows to join protest against Nato supplies (http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-1
5820-Nawaz-Sharif-vows-to-join-protest-against-Nato-supplies) The News International
80. Obama, Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif meet at White House (http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-us-pakistan-
20131024,0,345868.story?track=rss) Los Angeles Times
81. Pakistan Premier Proposes an Islamic Society Based on Koran NYTimes.com (https://query.nytimes.co
m/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E2DB1E3CF93AA1575BC0A96E958260). The New York Times (29
August 1998). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
82. Sharif goes ahead with Shariat; 2 more generals quit (http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/
19981009/28250644.html). The Indian Express. (9 October 1998). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
83. Nawaz to go ahead with Islamisation Bill (http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980906/
24950304.html). The Indian Express. (6 September 1998). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
84. "South Asia Pakistan parliament approves Islamic law" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/189735.st
m). BBC News South Asia. 9 October 1998. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
85. Ravi Shekhar Narain Singh Singh (2008). The Military Factor in Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Military (ht
tps://books.google.com/books?id=wCm2DFZblOYC&pg=PA83). Frankfort, Illinois, United States:
Lancer Publishers. pp. 8089. ISBN 0-9815378-9-8.
86. Herald (2006). "Nawaz Sharif apologizes to Supreme Court" (http://www.pakistanherald.com/newprofile.
aspx?hofid=7). Pakistan Herald. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
87. New York Desk (26 November 2006). "PML-N apologizes the nation on attack at the SCP" (http://paktri
bune.com/news/PML-N-apologizes-the-nation-on-attack-at-the-SCP-161516.html). Pakistan Tribune.
Retrieved 8 December 2011.
88. Daniel E. Harmon (2008). Pervez Musharraf: President of Pakistan (https://books.google.com/books?id=
jisbSz2h9zYC&pg=PA65). United Kingdom: Rosen Publications. pp. 6566. ISBN 978-1-4270-9208-3.
89. Dugger, Celia W. (20 October 1998). "Pakistani Premier Prevails in Clash With General" (https://www.n
ytimes.com/1998/10/20/world/pakistani-premier-prevails-in-clash-with-general.html?pagewanted=all&sr
c=pm). The New York Times. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
90. Aziz, Sartaj (2009). Between Dreams and Realities: Some Milestones in Pakistan's History (http://www.d
ailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\09\story_9-8-2009_pg3_5). Karachi, Pakistan: Oxford
University Press. p. 408. ISBN 978-0-19-547718-4.
 91. Daily Times Report (9 October 2002). "E-Mail this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version Musharraf
planned coup much before Oct 12: Fasih Bokhari" (http://www.antisystemic.org/satribune/www.satribun
e.com/archives/oct7_13_02/DTimes_fasihoct9.htm). Daily Times. Retrieved 18 May 2012. "Navy chief
says the general feared court martial for masterminding Kargil"
92. Daily Times Release (9 October 2002). "E-Mail this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version Musharraf
planned coup much before Oct 12: Fasih Bokhari" (http://www.antisystemic.org/satribune/www.satribun
e.com/archives/oct7_13_02/DTimes_fasihoct9.htm). Daily Times. p. 1. Retrieved 18 May 2012. "Former
Navy chief says the general feared court martial for masterminding Kargil"
93. "Admiral Bokhari might accepted by PML-N as NAB chief" (http://paktribune.com/news/Admiral-Bokh
ari-might-accepted-by-PML-N-as-NAB-chief-244337.html). 13 October 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
94. "Sharif admits he let down Vajpayee on Kargil conflict" (http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/10/stories/2007
091059781400.htm). The Hindu. Chennai, India. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
95. Shahid Masood, Dr. Shahid Masood. "former Army intelligence officer and general for making an
example of Musharraf". GEO Television.
96. Kaushik, Kapisthalam. "Warplanes Article Index" (http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20
050520.aspx). Strategy Page. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
97. Tufail, Major Kaisar. "Kargil Conflict and Pakistan Air Force" (http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/200
9/01/kargil-conflict-and-pakistan-air-force.html). The Pakistan Air Force Directorate for Civil-Military
cooperation. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
98. Sethi, Najam. "Nawaz Sharif: A man between enemies". News Intelligence Unit.
99. "Coup in Pakistan" (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec99/pakistan_10-12.html). 12 October
1999. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
100. Bruner, Bruner (20 January 2000). "Sharif may face death penalty for hijacking" (http://www.highbeam.c
om/doc/1P2-5046205.html). The Independent.
101. "Pakistan after the coup: Special report" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/472968.stm). BBC. 12
October 2000. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
102. McCarthy, Rory (11 March 2000). Gunmen Shoot Dead Lawyer of Deposed Pakistani Leader Sharif (http
s://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/mar/11/pakistan.rorymccarthy). Guardian News.
103. Smith, Alex Duval (12 November 1999). Cook Warning over Show Trial for Sharif (http://www.independ
ent.co.uk/news/world/asia/cook-warning-over-show-trial-for-sharif-740015.html). The Independent.
104. Cook Warns against Pakistan 'show Trial (https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/nov/12/pakistan).
Guardian (12 November 1999).
105. Show Trial in Pakistan (https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/nov/22/pakistan.guardianleaders).
Guardian News (22 November 1999).
106. "We [Saudi Arabia] are not the observers, but are the main players of Pakistan's politics....". Geo
Television Network. WikiLeaks: United States Diplomatic Cables Leak: Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations.
107. BBC, World (South Asia) (22 June 2000). "Sharif convicted of corruption". BBC.
108. Harding, Luke (11 December 2000). "Pakistan frees Sharif to exile in Saudi Arabia" (https://www.thegua
rdian.com/world/2000/dec/11/pakistan.saudiarabia). The Guardian. London.
109. Musharraf, General (retired) Pervez (2006). In The Line of Fire: A Memoir. Pakistan: Free Press.
pp. 268290. ISBN 0-7432-8344-9.
110. Pakistan court orders arrest of Sharif's brother (https://archive.is/20130102064355/http://www.channelne
wsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/298441/1/.html). Channel NewsAsia (7 September 2007).
Retrieved 15 January 2011.
111. FACTBOX-Five Facts on Nawaz Sharif (http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/08/30/uk-pakistan-sharif-idU
KL3086457420070830). Reuters.co.uk. (30 August 2007).
112. Leading News Resource of Pakistan (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C0
9%5Cstory_9-9-2007_pg1_1). Daily Times (9 September 2007). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
113. Haider, Kamran (16 September 2007). Opposition to resign over Musharraf re-election bid (https://www.r
euters.com/article/2007/09/16/us-pakistan-opposition-idUSL1628623820070916). Reuters.com.
114. Perlez, Jane (20 November 2007). Musharraf in Saudi Arabia for Talks on Rival Sharif (https://www.nyti
mes.com/2007/11/20/world/asia/20iht-20pakistan.2.8407525.html). The New York Times.
115. Gall, Carlotta (25 November 2007). Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Returns to Pakistan (https://w
ww.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/world/asia/25iht-25pakistan.4.8472959.html). The New York Times.
116. Nawaz Sharif's Homecoming Puts Heat on Pervez Musharraf (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/
sharif-returns-from-exile/story-e6frf7mf-1111114969491). Herald Sun (27 November 2007).
117. McGivering, Jill. (7 December 2007) South Asia | Sharif not to fight election ban (http://news.bbc.co.uk/
2/hi/south_asia/7133473.stm). BBC News. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
118. South Asia | Sharif's party 'to contest polls' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7135535.stm). BBC
News (9 December 2007). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
119. Sharif Seeks to Lead Pakistan Opposition (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/01/04/Sharif-seeks-to-le
ad-Pakistan-opposition/UPI-88671199490123). UPI.com (4 January 2008).
120. Bowring, Philip (7 January 2008). Bowring: Pakistan's Way Forward (https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/
07/opinion/07iht-edbowring.1.9053478.html). The New York Times.
121. South Asia | Reactions to Bhutto assassination (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7161660.stm).
BBC News (27 December 2007). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
122. Militants Overrun Pakistan Army Base (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/16/world/main371902
3.shtml). CBS News (16 January 2008).
123. Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan (http://www.atime
s.com/atimes/South_Asia/JA19Df07.html). Asia Times Online. (19 January 2008). Retrieved 5 August
2012.
124. Pakistan leaders agree on coalition (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/21/pakistan/index.h
tml). CNN (21 February 2008). Retrieved 5 August 2012.
125. Sharif's party does well in Pakistani by-elections (https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/06/27/idUSISL15
9890). Reuters (27 June 2008). Retrieved 5 August 2012.
126. James, Astill (13 November 2009). "Pakistan has a chance to become more stable. Don't bet on it" (http://
www.economist.com/node/14742414). The Economist. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
127. Election 2008 Results (http://www.app.com.pk/election/). app.com.pk
128. An Lu, ed. (27 June 2008). "Pakistan ruling coalition sweeps by-elections" (http://news.xinhuanet.com/en
glish/2008-06/27/content_8449844.htm). Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
129. Pakistan: President Musharraf faces impeachment | guardian.co.uk (https://www.theguardian.com/world/
2008/aug/07/pakistan1). The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
130. Pakistan: Exit the president (http://www.economist.com/node/11965344). The Economist. Retrieved 5
August 2012.
131. Haider, Kamran (8 August 2008). "Pakistan coalition to move for Musharraf impeachment" (https://ww
w.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSISL15267920080807). Reuters. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
132. Pakistan coalition to pursue Musharraf impeachment (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/0
7/pakistan.impeach/). CNN (7 August 2008). Retrieved 15 January 2011.
133. Pakistan has become a beggar state: Nawaz (http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-14956-Pakist
an-has-become-a-beggar-state-Nawaz). The News (29 May 2012). Retrieved 29 May 2012.
134. Masooma Haq (13 March 2009). Pakistanis in Protest March for Independent Judiciary (http://www.thee
pochtimes.com/n2/world/pakistan-lawyers-protest-march-judiciary-13572.html) Archived (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20130918103046/http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/pakistan-lawyers-protest-marc
h-judiciary-13572.html) 18 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine.. Epoch Times. Retrieved 5 August
2012.
135. Imtiaz Hussain (4 November 2011). Mirza says PTI's rally an indicator of change (http://www.thenews.c
om.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=10073&Cat=13). The News International. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
136. Pakistan: After the Deluge (http://www.economist.com/node/17037131). The Economist (16 September
2010).
137. "Votes bring real change, not dharna: Nawaz Sharif" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/495632/votes-bring-real
-change-not-dharna-nawaz-sharif). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
138. "Nawaz Sharif says Imran, Zardari are on the same side" (http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=98529).
Geo TV. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
139. "Imran challenges Nawaz to TV debate" (http://dawn.com/2013/04/23/imran-challenges-nawaz-to-tv-deb
ate/). Dawn. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
140. "ECP takes notice of Imran Khan's 'Personal attack' on Nawaz Sharif" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/54126
2/ecp-takes-notice-of-imran-khans-personal-attack-on-nawaz-sharif/). The Express Tribune. 27 April
2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
141. "Imran throws down gauntlet to Nawaz, invites him to debate" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-9805
0-Imran-throws-down-gauntlet-to-Nawaz,-invites-him-to-debate). The News International. 27 April
2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
142. "Mass civil disobedience call issued by Imran Khan's party to unseat government" (http://www.pakistante
legraph.com/index.php/sid/224867665). Pakistan Telegraph. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
143. "Imran Khan resigns from National Assembly with party members to intensify pressure on Sharif
government" (http://www.pakistannews.net/index.php/sid/225005185). Pakistan News.Net. 22 August
2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
144. Ansari (13 May 2013). "Nawaz Sharif and bullet train" (http://dawn.com/2013/05/13/nawaz-sharif-and-b
ullet-train/). Dawn. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
145. "Nawaz promises construction of port, preferential development of Thatta" (http://app.com.pk/en_/index.
php?option=com_content&task=view&id=233595&Itemid=2). Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 13
May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
146. "Building a normal relationship with India should be Nawaz Sharif's priority" (http://www.economist.co
m/news/leaders/21578059-building-normal-relationship-india-should-be-nawaz-sharifs-priority-hope-fra
ctured). The Economist. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
147. Cross, Tony (13 May 2013). "Nawaz Sharif to recruit independents to avoid new Pakistan coalition
government" (http://www.english.rfi.fr/asia-pacific/20130513-nawaz-sharif-recruit-independents-avoid-n
ew-pakistan-coalition-government). Lahore: Radio France Internationale (rfi). Retrieved 24 May 2013.
148. Ali, Shafqat (16 May 2013). "Nawaz Sharif to be nuclear PM" (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/13051
6/news-world/article/nawaz-sharif-be-nuclear-pm). Deccan Chronicle (DC). Retrieved 24 May 2013.
149. Awan, Jawad R (10 July 2014). "PTI to go for Azadi March" (http://www.nation.com.pk/lahore/10-Jul-20
14/pti-to-go-for-azadi-march). The Nation. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
150. Mohammad, Peer (6 August 2014). "Build-up to Azadi March: Throwing down the gauntlet, Imran asks
PM to quit" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/744883/build-up-to-azadi-march-throwing-down-the-gauntlet-i
mran-asks-pm-to-quit/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
151. "Live Updates (Day 3): Imran says Tsunami can storm into PM House" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/arti
cle-156917-Live-Updates-(Day-3):-Imran-says-Tsunami-can-storm-into-PM-House-). The News
International. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
152. "Islamabad sit-in updates: New 'Awami parliament' to convene at 5pm on Tuesday, announces Qadri" (htt
p://tribune.com.pk/story/750314/islamabad-sit-in-updates-qadri-rejects-talks-with-government/). The
Express Tribune. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
153. "Parliament backs embattled Pakistan PM Sharif" (http://www.pakistantelegraph.com/index.php/sid/2253
25025). Pakistan Telegraph. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
154. "Pakistan cabinet led by PM Nawaz Sharif sworn in" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22810280).
BBC News. 7 June 2013.
155. "Nawaz Sharif's shift to the centre The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/996337/nawaz-sh
arifs-shift-to-the-centre/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
156. Kakakhel, Suhail (13 November 2015). "Religious leaders criticise PM for calling Pakistan 'liberal' " (htt
p://www.dawn.com/news/1219337). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
157. "Nawaz Sharif the liberal? The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1060018/nawaz-sharif-th
e-liberal/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
158. "Will stand by you against injustice, PM tells Hindu community The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.c
om.pk/story/989453/will-stand-by-you-against-injustice-pm-tells-hindu-community/). The Express
Tribune. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
159. "Women protection bill will cause divisions within families and increase divorce rate: JUI-F chief The
Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1056246/religious-parties-flay-women-protection-bill-back
-page/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
160. "Salmaan Taseer's killer Mumtaz Qadri executed The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/10
56319/mumtaz-qadri-executed-at-adiala-jail/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
161. "Salman Taseer murder: Pakistan hangs Mumtaz Qadri" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-3568445
2). BBC News. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
162. Boone, Jon (22 February 2016). "Pakistan PM promises tougher stance on 'honour' killings" (https://ww
w.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/22/pakistan-honour-killings-nawaz-sharif). The Guardian.
ISSN 0261-3077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 29 February 2016.
163. Craig, Tim (8 March 2016). "Pakistan's prime minister is defying the clerics very carefully" (https://ww
w.washingtonpost.com/world/pakistans-prime-minister-is-defying-the-clerics--very-carefully/2016/03/0
8/a6ecea88-e450-11e5-a6f3-21ccdbc5f74e_story.html?postshare=6271457543695980&tid=ss_tw). The
Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0190-8286). Retrieved 10 March
2016.
164. Times, The Friday. "The Significance of Some Recent Developments in Pakistan" (http://thewire.in/201
6/03/05/the-significance-of-some-recent-developments-in-pakistan-23963/). The Wire. Retrieved
17 March 2016.
165. "Nearly 2,000 pro-Qadri protesters continue sit-in outside Parliament" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1248
261). Dawn. Pakistan. 27 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
166. "Red Zone sit-in by pro-Qadri demonstrators ends after successful negotiations" (http://www.dawn.com/n
ews/1248875). Dawn. Pakistan. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
167. "Nation's future lies in democratic, liberal Pakistan, says Nawaz" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1554
1-nations-future-lies-in-democratic-liberal-pakistan-says-nawaz). Liberal Sharif. Retrieved 1 March
2016.
168. Iyengar, Rishi. "Pakistan to Make Hindu, Christian Festivals Public Holidays" (http://time.com/4260751/
pakistan-diwali-easter-holi-festival-public-holidays/). Time. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
169. "PM Nawaz orders QAU's physics centre to be renamed after Dr Abdus Salam" (http://www.dawn.com/n
ews/1300636). Dawn. Pakistan. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
170. "CII decries naming QAU physics centre after Dr Abdus Salam" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1301636).
Dawn. Pakistan. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
171. "PM calls for operation Zarb-e-Qalam against extremism, intolerance" (https://www.thenews.com.pk/late
st/176989-PM-calls-for-operation-Zarb-e-Qalam-against-extremism-intolerance). The News
International. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
172. "PM Nawaz announces Rs 500m 'Zarb-i-Qalam' endowment fund to counter extremism" (http://www.da
wn.com/news/1306581/). Dawn. Pakistan. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
173. "Tableeghi Jamat gathering: Govt accused of denying visas to 5,000 preachers The Express Tribune" (h
ttp://tribune.com.pk/story/1288663/tableeghi-jamat-gathering-govt-accused-denying-visas-5000-preacher
s/). The Express Tribune. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
174. "PM Nawaz urges religious scholars to spread 'true teachings' of Islam The Express Tribune" (https://tri
bune.com.pk/story/1352715/pm-nawaz-urges-religious-scholars-spread-true-teachings-islam/). The
Express Tribune. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
175. "Dar's 2013 budget speech the highs and the very low lows" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/712940/dars-2
013-budget-speech-the-highs-and-the-very-low-lows/). The Express Tribune. 25 May 2014. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
176. HIGHLIGHTS OF PAKISTAN ECONOMIC SURVEY 201314 (http://finance.gov.pk/survey/chapters_
14/Highlights_ES_201314.pdf)
177. "FY14: FDI clocks in at $1.63 billion, up 11.99%" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/736178/fy14-fdi-clocks-i
n-at-1-63-billion-up-11-99/). The Express Tribune. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
178. "Economic Survey 201415: Ishaq Dar touts economic growth amidst missed targets" (http://tribune.co
m.pk/story/897720/economic-survey-2014-15-ishaq-dar-unveils-countrys-economic-report-card/). The
Express Tribune. 4 June 2015.
179. "Pakistan: Economy" (http://www.adb.org/countries/pakistan/economy). Asian Development Bank.
180. "Warning signs emerge despite 5.2pc economic growth: WB" (http://nation.com.pk/business/21-May-201
7/warning-signs-emerge-despite-52pc-economic-growth-wb). The Nation. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
181. "Articles" (http://www.strategicforesight.com/inner-articles.php?id=300). strategicforesight.com.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
182. Anonymous. "Pakistan: Economy" (http://www.adb.org/countries/pakistan/economy). Asian
Development Bank. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
183. "Pakistan's debt pile soars to Rs 22.5tr The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1173193/paki
stans-debt-pile-soars-rs22-5tr/). The Express Tribune. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
184. "Expensive Eurobond issue has no early return clause The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/stor
y/1272143/floated-last-year-expensive-eurobond-issue-no-early-return-clause/). The Express Tribune. 23
December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
185. "Pakistan eyes free trade pact with Iran" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1234061). Dawn. Pakistan. 20
January 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
186. "PML-N's first year: Governance ratings up slightly, says PILDAT" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/882893/
pml-ns-first-year-governance-ratings-up-slightly-says-pildat/). The Express Tribune. 8 May 2015.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
187. "Pakistan's economy improving: IMF" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/16085/pakistans-economy-improving
-imf/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
188. "Foreign currency reserves cross $10b mark" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/690149/foreign-currency-reser
ves-cross-10b-mark/). The Express Tribune. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
189. "Outlook stable: S&P affirms Pakistan's ratings at B-/B" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/689676/outlook-st
able-sp-affirms-pakistans-ratings-at-b-b/). The Express Tribune. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
190. "Improving inflows: Moody's changes Pakistan's rating outlook to 'stable' " (http://tribune.com.pk/story/7
35581/improving-inflows-moodys-changes-pakistans-rating-outlook-to-stable/). The Express Tribune. 14
July 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
191. "Global Economic Conditions Survey: Business confidence in Pakistan at a three-year high" (http://tribun
e.com.pk/story/709390/global-economic-conditions-survey-business-confidence-in-pakistan-at-a-three-y
ear-high/). The Express Tribune. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
192. "10MFY14: FDI falls 12.9%, data reveals" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/708930/10mfy14-fdi-falls-12-9-d
ata-reveals/). The Express Tribune. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
193. "Pakistan economy improving, reform on track: IMF" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1085925). Dawn.
Pakistan. Associated Press. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
194. Trofimov, Yaroslav; Shah, Saeed (18 February 2014). "Pakistan Unveils Plan to Boost Economy" (http
s://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304899704579390052663233522). The Wall Street
Journal.
195. Mangi, Faseeh (16 March 2015). "Bombs, Protests, Blackouts Fail to Cripple Pakistan Economy" (http
s://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-16/bombs-protests-and-blackouts-fail-to-cripple-pakistan
-economy). Bloomberg.
196. "Pakistan Development Update: Economy Gradually Improving" (http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/fea
ture/2014/04/09/pakistan-dvelopment-update-economy-gradually-improving). World Bank. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
197. Walsh, Declan; Masood, Salman (4 July 2013). "I.M.F. and Pakistan Agree to a $5.3 Billion Bailout" (htt
ps://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/world/asia/imf-and-pakistan-agree-to-5-3-billion-bailout.html). The
New York Times.
198. "Pakistan accepts tough IMF conditions for $6.6 billion bailout package" (http://paktribune.com/news/Pa
kistan-accepts-tough-IMF-conditions-for-66-billion-bailout-package-262837.html). Paktribune.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
199. "Moody's upgrades Pakistan's bond rating" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/858741/moodys-upgrades-pakista
ns-bond-rating/). The Express Tribune. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
200. "Do more: Modest economic expansion likely this year too" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/858431/do-more
-modest-economic-expansion-likely-this-year-too/). The Express Tribune. 25 March 2015. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
201. "Pakistan's economy enjoying period of optimism: report" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/880088/pakistans-
economy-enjoying-period-of-optimism-report/). The Express Tribune. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 8 January
2016.
202. "S&P improves Pakistan's credit-rating outlook, GDP growth projections" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1
180130/). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
203. "Social, economic survey: UN report praises govt for economic upturn" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/8867
44/social-economic-survey-un-report-praises-govt-for-economic-upturn/). The Express Tribune. 15 May
2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
204. "Pakistan's GDP to grow by 4.5% in current fiscal year, WB forecasts" (http://www.pakistantoday.com.p
k/2015/10/06/news/pakistans-gdp-to-grow-by-4-5-in-current-fiscal-year-wb-forecasts/). Retrieved
11 February 2016.
205. "Pakistan's trade gap broadens to $13.7b The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1044204/ju
ly-january-pakistans-trade-gap-broadens-to-13-7b/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
206. "With decline in oil prices, consumers expect low inflation The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/1043503/sbp-iba-survey-with-decline-in-oil-prices-consumers-expect-low-inflation/). The
Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
207. "World Bank chief pushes Pakistan to keep up momentum The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/1043623/economic-reforms-wb-chief-pushes-pakistan-to-keep-up-momentum/). The Express
Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
208. "Punjab's textile industry hails 24-hour gas supply The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1
062654/punjabs-textile-industry-hails-24-hour-gas-supply/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 10 March
2016.
209. "Auto policy approved, door wide open for new entrant The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/st
ory/1068402/long-awaited-auto-policy-approved-door-wide-open-for-new-entrant/). The Express
Tribune. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
210. "Three of every 10 Pakistanis officially poor The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/108073
2/poverty-definition-revised-numbers-out-three-out-of-every-10-pakistanis-are-poor/). The Express
Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
211. "PILDAT scorecard 201415: Quality of governance improves at federal level The Express Tribune" (h
ttp://tribune.com.pk/story/1083018/pildat-scorecard-2014-15-quality-of-governance-improves-at-federal-
level/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
212. "Exim Bank of US has renewed interest in Pakistan The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/
1084216/exploring-the-market-exim-bank-of-us-has-renewed-interest-in-pakistan/). The Express Tribune.
Retrieved 14 April 2016.
213. " 'Pakistan is world's seventh most restrictive and protected economy' The Express Tribune" (http://trib
une.com.pk/story/1099549/export-competitiveness-addressing-structural-issues/). The Express Tribune. 9
May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
214. Nagri, Jamil (1 November 2016). "First trade activity under CPEC kicks off" (http://www.dawn.com/new
s/1293574). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
215. Chandran, Nyshka (15 June 2016). "What Pakistan can teach China on markets" (http://www.cnbc.com/2
016/06/15/why-pakistan-got-mscis-emerging-markets-index-approval-and-china-didnt.html). CNBC.
Retrieved 15 June 2016.
216. "Pakistan upgraded to emerging markets status The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1122
910/pakistan-upgraded-emerging-markets-status/). The Express Tribune. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June
2016.
217. "Blow for China as its stock markets are denied MSCI seal of approval" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/busi
ness/2016/06/14/blow-for-china-as-its-stock-markets-are-denied-msci-seal-of-appr/). The Telegraph.
Retrieved 15 June 2016.
218. "Ramadan brings more cheer to Pakistan, country's stock market index upgraded by MSCI" (http://www.i
btimes.co.in/pakistan-could-get-475-million-capital-inflows-after-upgrade-by-msci-kse-100-hits-historic-
high-682821). International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
219. FaseehMangi, Faseeh Mangi. "Pakistan Stocks Jump Most in a Year as MSCI Seen Luring Cash" (https://
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-15/pakistani-stocks-jump-most-this-year-after-upgrade-from
-msci). Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
220. "These are the '10 emerging markets of the future' " (http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-emerging-m
arkets-of-the-future-2016-7). Retrieved 31 July 2016.
221. "These are the '10 emerging markets of the future' " (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/07/these-are
-the-10-emerging-markets-of-the-future). World Economic Forum. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
222. "Tax matters: Pakistan officially becomes signatory of OECD Convention The Express Tribune" (htt
p://tribune.com.pk/story/1182304/tax-matters-pakistan-officially-becomes-signatory-oecd-convention/).
15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
223. "Pakistan's economy ready for takeoff | TNS The News on Sunday" (http://tns.thenews.com.pk/pakistan
s-economy-ready-takeoff/#.V9_EsZN95Z3). The News International. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
224. Khan, Sanaullah (24 October 2016). "Pakistan out of economic crisis but needs to widen tax net, says
IMF's Lagarde" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1291982). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
225. "Pakistan up 4 places in Ease of Doing Business index The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/sto
ry/1210727/pakistan-4-places-ease-business-index/). The Express Tribune. 26 October 2016. Retrieved
26 October 2016.
226. "S&P raises Pakistan ratings to B from B- The Economic Times" (http://economictimes.indiatimes.co
m/news/international/business/sp-raises-pakistan-ratings-to-b-from-b-/articleshow/55165522.cms). The
Economic Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
227. "Stocks make historic jump as S&P's upgrades credit rating, PTI retreats The Express Tribune" (http://t
ribune.com.pk/story/1217396/psx-makes-historic-jump-pti-postpones-november-2-lockdown/). The
Express Tribune. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
228. "First Chinese shipment rolls into Sost dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.
com.pk/story/1216912/first-chinese-shipment-rolls-sost-dry-port-g-b/). The Express Tribune. 1
November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
229. APP (3 November 2016). "Renault to start assembling cars in Pakistan by 2018, says Board of
Investment" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1294029/). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
230. Reuters (6 May 2016). "Pakistan woos Renault and Nissan in push for auto investment" (http://www.daw
n.com/news/1256681). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
231. FaseehMangi, Faseeh Mangi (7 November 2016). "China's Billions Luring Once Shy Foreign Investors
to Pakistan" (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-07/china-s-billions-luring-once-shy-for
eign-investors-to-pakistan). Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
232. "Audi AG expresses intent to assemble vehicles in Pakistan The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/1231159/audi-ag-expresses-intent-assemble-vehicles-pakistan/). The Express Tribune. 15
November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
233. "Pakistan predicted to be world's fastest-growing Muslim economy in 2017 The Express Tribune" (htt
p://tribune.com.pk/story/1290084/pakistan-predicted-worlds-fastest-growing-muslim-economy-2017/).
The Express Tribune. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
234. "Economic and financial indicators" (http://www.economist.com/indicators). The Economist. Retrieved
10 January 2017.
235. "PM Nawaz meets Swiss President in Davos" (https://www.geo.tv/latest/127821-PM-Nawaz-meets-Swis
s-President-Doris-Leuthard-in-Davos). geo.tv. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
236. "PM Nawaz to attend WEF's annual meeting" (http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/01/15/pm-nawaz-t
o-attend-wefs-annual-meeting/). Retrieved 19 January 2017.
237. "PM due in Davos today for WEF meeting" (https://www.dawn.com/news/1308751/pm-due-in-davos-tod
ay-for-wef-meeting). Dawn. Pakistan. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
238. Cowen, Tyler (6 February 2017). "Pakistan's Economy Is a Pleasant Surprise" (https://www.bloomberg.c
om/view/articles/2017-02-06/pakistan-s-economy-is-a-pleasant-surprise). Bloomberg LP.
239. Zaidi, Mubashir. "Dawn 'leak' on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor draws Nawaz Sharif government's
ire" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/dawn-leak-on-china-pakistan-economic-corridor-draw
s-nawaz-sharif-governments-ire/article18465409.ece). The Hindu. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
240. "Review & Outlook: Privatizing Pakistan's Economy WSJ" (https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10
001424052702303796404579096762637188256). The Wall Street Journal. 25 September 2013.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
241. "Privatisation Commission approves share sale for OGDCL, PPL and three banks" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/656975/privatisation-commission-approves-share-sale-for-ogdcl-ppl-and-three-banks/). The
Express Tribune. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
242. Dawn.com (9 February 2016). "PIA employees end strike, resume flight operations nationwide" (http://w
ww.dawn.com/news/1238419). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
243. "Chinese consortium wins bid for 40% stake in PSX The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/
1272125/buy-chinese-consortium-wins-bid-40-stake-psx/). The Express Tribune. 23 December 2016.
Retrieved 24 December 2016.
244. "Associated Press of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )" (http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.
php?option=com_content&task=view&id=270136&Itemid=2). app.com.pk. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
245. "Govt prioritises mega development projects in PSDP" (http://www.nation.com.pk/business/24-May-201
4/govt-prioritises-mega-development-projects-in-psdp). The Nation. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January
2016.
246. "3G, 4G service: Rs260b tax will be collected in treasury every year, says Nawaz" (http://tribune.com.pk/
story/711612/3g-4g-service-rs260b-tax-will-be-collected-in-treasury-every-year-says-nawaz/). The
Express Tribune. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
247. "Info: What is the Public Sector Development Programme?" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/387630/info-wh
at-is-the-public-sector-development-programme/). The Express Tribune. 2 June 2012. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
248. "Budget 201415: PSDP size increased to Rs 525 billion" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/716945/psdp-size-
increased-to-rs525-billion/). The Express Tribune. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
249. "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-N
ews-3-252518-Govt-allocates-Rs73-billion-for-Pakistan-China-trade-corridor). The News International.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
250. "Pakistan launches Visions 2025 program for fast-track development" (http://articles.economictimes.indi
atimes.com/2014-08-11/news/52687324_1_programme-exports-development-fund). timesofindia-
economictimes. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
251. "NEC approves seven-pillar 'Pakistan Vision 2025' " (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/30-May-20
14/nec-approves-seven-pillar-pakistan-vision-2025). Daily Times. Pakistan. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
252. "A reality check on Vision 2025" (http://www.arabnews.com/news/columns/617286). arabnews.com.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
253. "Fata's merger" (https://www.dawn.com/news/1318198). Dawn. Pakistan. 4 March 2017. Retrieved
7 March 2017.
254. Masood, Salman; Buckley, Chris (26 November 2013). "Pakistan breaks ground on nuclear power plant
project with China" (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/27/world/asia/pakistan-breaks-ground-on-nuclear
-power-plant-project-with-china.html). The New York Times. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
255. "Pakistan to build six n-power plants: Nawaz Sharif" (http://news.oneindia.in/international/pakistan-to-bu
ild-six-n-power-plants-nawaz-sharif-1348100.html). Oneindia.in. 26 November 2013. Retrieved
28 September 2014.
256. Haider, Mehtab (27 February 2014). "Nuclear plants to produce 40000MW PAEC" (http://www.thenews.
com.pk/Todays-News-3-235039-32-nuclear-plants-to-produce-40000MW-PAEC). The News
International. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
257. "Pakistan's nuclear plants, reactors under IAEA safeguards, PM tells IAEA chief" (http://news.xinhuanet.
com/english/world/2014-03/11/c_133178363.htm). Xinhua News Agency. 11 March 2014. Retrieved
28 September 2014.
258. "Cabinet approves steps for Fata's merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa" (https://www.dawn.com/news/131
8095/cabinet-approves-steps-for-fatas-merger-with-khyber-pakhtunkhwa). Dawn. Pakistan. 3 March
2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
259. "Nawaz Sharif chairs All Party Meeting" (http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/nawaz-
sharif-chairs-all-party-meeting-113090900192_1.html). Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 9
September 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
260. Harris, Hanif (7 June 2013). "Cabinet appointed by Sharif" (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-
08/dar-appointed-pakistan-s-finance-minister-as-growth-falters.html). Bloomberg, 2013. Bloomberg.
Retrieved 10 January 2015.
261. Shah, Aqil (2014). "Conclusion". The Armed Forces and Democracy (https://books.google.com/books?id
=ShihAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA285). Harvard, U.S: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674419774. Retrieved
7 January 2015.
262. Craig, Tim (19 September 2013). "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's effort to seek peace with Pakistani
Taliban off to rocky start" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/prime-minister-nawaz-sha
rifs-effort-to-seek-peace-with-pakistani-taliban-off-to-rocky-start/2013/09/19/a621f69e-20a2-11e3-a358-
1144dee636dd_story.html). The Washington Post.
263. "Taliban bomb kills Pakistani general, two other soldiers" (https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/15/us
-pakistan-violence-idUSBRE98E05E20130915). Reuters. 15 September 2013.
264. "How it went wrong for Nawaz Sharif" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24211003). BBC News.
25 September 2013.
265. "Quest for peace: Fitting rejoinder to Taliban dictates" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/605353/quest-for-pea
ce-fitting-rejoinder-to-taliban-dictates/). The Express Tribune. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 8 January
2016.
266. "Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan" (http://pmo.gov.pk/pm_speech_details.php?speech_id=4
3). pmo.gov.pk. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
267. "Fight against terrorism: Defining moment" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/811947/fight-against-terrorism-d
efining-moment/). The Express Tribune. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
268. "Come what may: Karachi operation will continue, says Nawaz" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/856692/co
me-what-may-karachi-operation-will-continue-says-nawaz/). The Express Tribune. 21 March 2015.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
269. "32,347 arrested, 28,826 operations conducted under NAP: report" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/860426/3
2347-arrested-28826-operations-conducted-under-nap-report/). The Express Tribune. 28 March 2015.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
270. "Lahore bombing: Outpouring of grief and solidarity" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/lahore-b
ombing-outpouring-grief-solidarity-reactions-world-leaders-160328103820435.html). Al Jazeera.
Retrieved 30 March 2016.
271. "Pakistan conducts sweeping raids after Lahore bombing" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/paki
stan-conducts-sweeping-raids-lahore-bombing-160329163347901.html). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 March
2016.
272. "First stage of Karachi security operation complete: Rangers The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.
pk/story/935314/fist-stage-of-karachi-security-operation-complete-rangers/). 9 August 2015. Retrieved
4 September 2016.
273. Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (7 May 2016). "Rangers vow to follow rules in Karachi operation" (htt
p://www.dawn.com/news/1256790). Retrieved 4 September 2016.
274. Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (3 November 2015). "Rangers launch 'next phase' of Karachi operation"
(http://www.dawn.com/news/1217067). Retrieved 4 September 2016.
275. Ali, Imtiaz (23 August 2016). "Rangers claim arrest of 654 MQM-affiliated target killers involved in
5,863 incidents" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1279474). Retrieved 4 September 2016.
276. "Heavy fighting reported at Karachi airport" (http://www.webcitation.org/6R2Yfj13O?url=http://www.alj
azeera.com/news/asia/2014/06/heavy-fighting-reported-at-karachi-airport-201468185852200231.html).
Al Jazeera. 8 June 2014. Archived from the original (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/06/heavy
-fighting-reported-at-karachi-airport-201468185852200231.html) on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 8 June
2014.
277. 1) January 1970). " BBC Urdu '
3 ( " ' http://www.webcitation.org/6R8SX5gtp?url=http://www.bbc.co.
uk/urdu/pakistan/2014/06/140615_preperation_waziristan_operation_tim.shtml). BBC. Archived from
the original (http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2014/06/140615_preperation_waziristan_operation_ti
m.shtml) on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
278. Wearing thin: Nawaz Sharif is weakening, and looks unable to improve relations with India (http://www.
economist.com/news/asia/21631112-nawaz-sharif-weakening-and-looks-unable-improve-relations-india-
wearing-thin), The Economist.
279. "A peaceful neighbourhood" (http://nation.com.pk/columns/26-May-2014/a-peaceful-neighbourhood).
The Nation. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
280. "Nawaz Sharif visits Iran amid tensions" (http://www.arabnews.com/news/569401). arabnews.com.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
281. "Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan" (http://pmo.gov.pk/pm_speech_details.php?speech_id=4
7). pmo.gov.pk. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
282. APP (27 October 2016). "PM stresses cooperation for poverty reduction" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1
292450/pm-stresses-cooperation-for-poverty-reduction). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
283. "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-10
1959-Chinese-PM-begins-Pakistan-visit). The News International. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
284. "Balochistan to receive big slice of Chinese funds" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/683281/balochistan-to-re
ceive-big-slice-of-chinese-funds/). The Express Tribune. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
285. "China, Pakistan ink 20 pacts, boost ties" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/China-Pakistan
-ink-20-pacts-boost-ties/articleshow/45080979.cms). The Times of India. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
286. "Pakistan says will help China fight Xinjiang militants" (https://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-says-help-chin
a-fight-xinjiang-militants-095215573.html). Yahoo News. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
287. "China again blocks India's move at UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar The Express Tribune" (http://t
ribune.com.pk/story/1077054/china-again-blocks-indias-bid-at-un-to-ban-jem-chief-masood-azhar/). The
Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
288. "China blocks India's anti-Pakistan move in UN The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/908
754/china-blocks-indias-anti-pakistan-move-in-un/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
289. "Pakistan joins SCO as full member at Tashkent" (http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/pak
istan-joins-sco-as-full-member-at-tashkent-2875304/). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
290. "Pakistan's cabinet gives nod for security pact with China The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/
story/1175690/cabinet-gives-nod-security-pact-china/). 4 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
291. Ankit Panda, The Diplomat. "India-Pakistan Relations: A 2013 Retrospective and 2014 Prospectus" (htt
p://thediplomat.com/2013/12/india-pakistan-relations-a-2013-retrospective-and-2014-prospectus/). The
Diplomat. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
292. "Pak army stopped Nawaz Sharif govt from trade deal: India" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/P
ak-army-stopped-Nawaz-Sharif-govt-from-trade-deal-India/articleshow/32699101.cms). The Times of
India. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
293. "Nawaz Sharif congratulates Narendra Modi over phone, invites him to Pakistan" (http://zeenews.india.c
om/news/general-elections-2014/nawaz-sharif-congratulates-narendra-modi-over-phone-invites-him-to-p
akistan_932634.html). Zee News. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
294. "Pakistan PM Sharif to go to Modi inauguration in India" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-275541
93). BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
295. "Terror dominates Narendra Modi-Nawaz Sharif talks in Delhi" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi
a/Terror-dominates-Narendra-Modi-Nawaz-Sharif-talks-in-Delhi/articleshow/35630307.cms). The Times
of India. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
296. "Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sends mangoes to Indian" (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w
orld/asia/pakistan-prime-minister-nawaz-sharif-sends-mangoes-to-indian-counterpart-narendra-modi-to-s
weeten-relations-ahead-of-possible-new-york-meeting-9714790.html). The Independent. 5 September
2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
297. "India and Pakistan Trade Blame in Kashmir Deaths" (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/world/asia/c
ross-border-fighting-kills-civilians-in-kashmir.html). The New York Times. 7 October 2014. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
298. "Kashmir issue: PM Nawaz accuses India of inflexibility" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/794212/kashmir-is
sue-pm-nawaz-accuses-india-of-inflexibility/). The Express Tribune. 20 November 2014. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
299. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2 December 2015). "Sharif, Modi had deniable secret meeting in
Kathmandu: book" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1223705/sharif-modi-had-deniable-secret-meeting-in-ka
thmandu-book). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
300. Syed, Baqir Sajjad (10 December 2015). "Breakthrough at 'Heart of Asia': Pakistan, India to resume
'comprehensive' talks" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1225402). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 March
2016.
301. "India PM Modi makes surprise Pakistan visit" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/india-pm-modi-
surprise-pakistan-visit-151225123932346.html). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
302. Haider, Dawn.com | Irfan (25 December 2015). "Modi returns to India after surprise Pakistan visit" (htt
p://www.dawn.com/news/1228735). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
303. "India PM Modi in surprise Pakistan visit" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35178594). BBC
News. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
304. " 'RAW officer' arrested in Balochistan The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1072455/terr
or-purge-forces-nab-indian-spy-in-balochistan/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
305. " 'RAW officer' arrested in Balochistan The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1071787/raw
-officer-arrested-in-balochistan/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
306. "Official Spokesperson's response to a query regarding purported arrest of an Indian in Balochistan" (htt
p://mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/26565/Official_Spokespersons_response_to_a_query_regarding_
purported_arrest_of_an_Indian_in_Balochistan). mea.gov.in. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
307. "Detained 'RAW' officer retired prematurely from Indian navy, says New Delhi The Express Tribune"
(http://tribune.com.pk/story/1072621/detained-raw-officer-retired-prematurely-from-indian-navy-says-ne
w-delhi/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
308. "Pakistan summons Indian envoy over 'RAW officer' nabbed in Balochistan The Express Tribune" (htt
p://tribune.com.pk/story/1072557/pakistan-summons-indian-envoy-over-raw-officer-nabbed-in-balochist
an/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
309. "Detained Indian spy confesses to RAW's involvement in Balochistan The Express Tribune" (http://trib
une.com.pk/story/1074880/dg-ispr-information-minister-to-hold-joint-presser-today/). The Express
Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
310. Dawn.com (29 March 2016). "Govt airs video of Indian spy admitting involvement in Balochistan
insurgency" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1248669/govt-airs-video-of-indian-spy-admitting-involvement-
in-balochistan-insurgency). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
311. "Yadav's confession: Fresh spy suspects detained amid diplomatic offensive The Express Tribune" (htt
p://tribune.com.pk/story/1076870/yadavs-confession-fresh-spy-suspects-detained-amid-diplomatic-offens
ive/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
312. "Pakistan fomenting trouble, but Modi will solve Kashmir issue: Mehbooba Mufti" (http://timesofindia.in
diatimes.com/india/Pakistan-fomenting-trouble-but-Modi-will-solve-Kashmir-issue-Mehbooba-Mufti/arti
cleshow/53886822.cms). Retrieved 22 September 2016.
313. Jacob, Happymon (14 July 2016). "Living in denial on Kashmir" (http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/
happymon-jacob-on-jammu-and-kashmir-violent-clashes-living-in-denial-on-kashmir/article8845083.ec
e). The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0971-751X). Retrieved 22 September
2016.
314. Anand, Geeta; Kumar, Hari (21 September 2016). "Kashmir Crisis Poses Major Test for India's Leader,
Narendra Modi" (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan-unrest.html).
The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved
22 September 2016.
315. "World leaders condemn IHK attack" (https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/151185-World-leaders-condem
n-IHK-attack). The News International. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
316. Chandran, Nyshka (21 September 2016). "As India-Pakistan tensions mount after Kashmir attack, what's
next?" (http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/20/modi-news-india-pakistan-tensions-mount-after-attack-in-kash
mir.html). CNBC. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
317. "Nawaz demands UN-led probe into Kashmir abuses The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/stor
y/1186163/nawaz-demand-un-led-probe-kashmir-abuses/). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September
2016.
318. "Kashmir dispute: Chinese premier endorses Pakistan's stance The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.co
m.pk/story/1186190/kashmir-dispute-chinese-premier-endorses-pakistans-stance/). 22 September 2016.
Retrieved 22 September 2016.
319. "Glorification of Burhan Wani self incrimination by Pak: MJ Akbar on Nawaz Sharif's speech" (http://ind
ianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/glorification-of-wani-self-incrimination-by-pak-mj-akbar-o
n-nawaz-sharifs-speech-3043146/). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
320. "India vexed by Nawaz hailing of Wani The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1186695/ind
ia-vexed-nawaz-hailing-wani/). 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
321. CNN, Ravi Agrawal. "Could India and Pakistan go to war?" (http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/21/asia/india-
pakistan-kashmir-conflict/index.html). CNN. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
322. Anand, Geeta; Kumar, Hari (21 September 2016). "Kashmir Crisis Poses Major Test for India's Leader,
Narendra Modi" (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/world/asia/kashmir-india-pakistan-unrest.html).
The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved
23 September 2016.
323. "Pakistan PM backs Afghan talks with Taliban" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/southasia/2014/11/pakis
tan-afghanistan-major-trade-deal-2014111510925406153.html). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
324. "PM Nawaz envisions strong, comprehensive partnership with Afghanistan" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/
791556/afghan-president-arrives-at-pm-house/). The Express Tribune. 15 November 2014. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
325. "Tension prevails at Pakistan-Afghanistan border" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/tension-prev
ails-pakistan-afghanistan-border-160617060503604.html). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
326. "1,100km trench built alongside Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan The Express Tribune" (http://tribun
e.com.pk/story/1126353/1100km-trench-built-alongside-pak-afghan-border-balochistan/). 20 June 2016.
Retrieved 27 June 2016.
327. "Pakistani PM Sharif Starts US Visit" (http://www.voanews.com/content/pakistani-pm-meets-kerry-at-sta
rt-of-visit/1773492.html). VOA. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
328. Karen DeYoung (4 February 2014). "U.S. curtails drone strikes in Pakistan as officials there seek peace
talks with Taliban" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-curtails-drone-strikes-in-
pakistan-as-officials-there-seek-peace-talks-with-taliban/2014/02/04/1d63f52a-8dd8-11e3-833c-33098f9
e5267_story.html). The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
329. Reuters (16 March 2016). "Lockheed staves off F-16 production line closure as it waits on Pakistan's
orders" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1246026/lockheed-staves-off-f-16-production-line-closure-as-it-wai
ts-on-pakistans-orders). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
330. APP (17 February 2016). "India should not be concerned over F-16 sale to Pakistan, says Pentagon" (htt
p://www.dawn.com/news/1240117/india-should-not-be-concerned-over-f-16-sale-to-pakistan-says-pentag
on). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
331. "Obama believes Pakistan will win terror war" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1075669/condolences-for-lah
ore-obama-believes-pakistan-will-win-terror-war/). The Express Tribune. 31 March 2016.
332. "US lawmakers move bill to designate Pakistan a terrorist state The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.co
m.pk/story/1185650/us-lawmakers-move-bill-designate-pakistan-terrorist-state/). The Express Tribune.
21 September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
333. "Small minority behind anti-Pakistan bill" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1285963). Dawn. Pakistan. 25
September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
334. "Ignoring Pakistan will be dangerous for US: John McCain The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/1150967/ignoring-pakistan-will-dangerous-us-john-mccain/). The Express Tribune. 28 July 2016.
Retrieved 3 December 2016.
335. "Subscribe to read" (https://www.ft.com/content/d97ccbe8-527e-11e6-9664-e0bdc13c3bef). Financial
Times. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
336. "That 'tremendous' call between Trump and Pakistan's PM Nawaz Sharif" (http://www.bbc.com/news/wo
rld-asia-38165878). BBC News. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
337. CNN, Joshua Berlinger and Sophia Saifi. "Donald Trump reportedly praises Pakistan's 'terrific' PM" (htt
p://www.cnn.com/2016/12/01/politics/donald-trump-nawaz-sharif-phone-call/index.html). CNN.
Retrieved 1 December 2016.
338. "US bill pledges $900m to Pakistan, links half of amount to certification" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1
300171/). Dawn. Pakistan. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
339. "Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the UK this week" (https://www.gov.uk/government/new
s/pakistans-prime-minister-nawaz-sharif-visited-the-uk-this-week). gov.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
340. "Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan" (http://pmo.gov.pk/pm_speech_details.php?speech_id=31
a). pmo.gov.pk. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
341. "Pakistan PM Sharif and Merkel talk trade, terrorism" (http://www.dw.de/pakistan-pm-sharif-and-merkel
-talk-trade-terrorism/a-18057269). DW.COM. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
342. "Pakistan to return Saudi favor with arms, combat aircrafts [sic]" (http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/201
4/04/02/national/pakistan-to-return-saudi-arbias-favor-with-arms-combat-aircrafts/). Pakistan Today.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
343. "Revealed: It was Saudi Arabia that loaned Pakistan $1.5 billion to shore up reserves" (http://tribune.co
m.pk/story/682409/reavealed-it-was-saudi-arabia-that-loaned-pakistan-1-5-billion-to-shore-up-reserves/).
The Express Tribune. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
344. Saudi crown prince visits Pakistan, meets president (http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/201
4/02/15/Saudi-crown-prince-visits-Pakistan-meets-president.html)
345. "Saudi Arabia will always stand by Pakistan, says King Abdullah" (http://www.arabnews.com/news/6078
11). arabnews.com. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
346. "Pakistan declines to join Saudi Arabia's anti-Iran alliance Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East" (h
ttp://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/saudi-pakistan-yemen-taliban-iran-sunni-salman.html
#). Al-Monitor. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
347. Waraich, Omar. "Pakistan Caught Between Iran and Saudi Arabia" (http://time.com/4174835/pakistan-ira
n-saudi-arabia-sunni-shiite/). Time. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
348. "PM Nawaz, COAS Raheel leaves for Tehran, after Saudi Arabia" (http://www.thenewsteller.com/pakista
n/pm-nawaz-coas-raheel-leaves-for-tehran-after-saudi-arabia/31595/). thenewsteller.com. Retrieved
19 January 2016.
349. "Saudi Arabia mulls NATO-like military alliance of Muslim countries, asks Pakistan to lead" (http://zeen
ews.india.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-mulls-nato-like-military-alliance-of-muslim-countries-asks-pakis
tan-to-lead_1866276.html). Zee News. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
350. AFP (14 February 2016). "Pakistan joins 'Thunder of the North' military exercise in Saudi Arabia" (htt
p://www.dawn.com/news/1239517). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
351. "Pakistan, Russia sign 'milestone' military cooperation pact" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/794295/pakistan
-russia-sign-military-cooperation-agreement/). The Express Tribune. 20 November 2014. Retrieved
8 January 2016.
352. "Why is Russia lifting embargo on military supplies to Pakistan?" (http://rt.com/op-edge/163116-russian-
embargo-military-supplies-pakistan/). RT International. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
353. "Russian forces arrive in Pakistan for first-ever joint military exercise The Express Tribune" (http://trib
une.com.pk/story/1186889/russian-forces-arrive-pakistan-first-ever-joint-military-exercise/). 23
September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
354. Boone, Jon (19 March 2013). "Nawaz Sharif in the driving seat in battle to be Pakistan's PM" (https://ww
w.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/19/nawaz-sharif-pakistan-elections-prime-minister). The Guardian.
ISSN 0261-3077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 20 January 2017.
355. Boone, Jon (17 May 2013). "Nawaz Sharif: rightwing tycoon who has won over liberals for now" (http
s://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/17/nawaz-sharif-pakistan-profile). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-
3077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 20 January 2017.
356. "Pakistan's prime minister is defying the clerics very carefully" (https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl
d/pakistans-prime-minister-is-defying-the-clerics--very-carefully/2016/03/08/a6ecea88-e450-11e5-a6f3-2
1ccdbc5f74e_story.html). The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
357. "Nawaz Sharif the liberal? The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1060018/nawaz-sharif-th
e-liberal/). The Express Tribune. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
358. Hanif, Mohammed (13 May 2013). "Pakistan elections: how Nawaz Sharif beat Imran Khan and what
happens next" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/13/pakistan-elections-nawaz-sharif-imran-
khan). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 20 January
2017.
359. Gargan, Edward A. (19 November 1991). "Divided Pakistan Torn by Lawlessness and Scandal" (https://
www.nytimes.com/1991/11/19/world/divided-pakistan-torn-by-lawlessness-and-scandal.html). The New
York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 20 January 2017.
360. Perlez, Jane (24 March 2009). "U.S. Weighs Sharif as Partner in Pakistan" (https://www.nytimes.com/20
09/03/25/world/asia/25sharif.html). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://www.worldcat.org/iss
n/0362-4331). Retrieved 20 January 2017.
361. Dugger, Celia W. (31 October 1999). "Amid Pakistani Poverty, Opulent Palace of Ex-Premier" (https://w
ww.nytimes.com/1999/10/31/world/amid-pakistani-poverty-opulent-palace-of-ex-premier.html). The New
York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 20 January 2017.
362. Masood, Salman (28 June 2014). "Khan's call for long march" (https://web.archive.org/web/2014081613
4849/http://www.nation.com.pk/politics/28-Jun-2014/khan-s-call-for-long-march). The Nation. Archived
from the original (http://www.nation.com.pk/politics/28-Jun-2014/khan-s-call-for-long-march) on 16
August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
363. "Spilling the beans: 2013 polls massively rigged, claims former ECP official" (http://tribune.com.pk/stor
y/753131/spilling-the-beans-2013-polls-massively-rigged-claims-former-ecp-official/). The Express
Tribune. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
364. "Afzal Khan reveals rigging in 2013 elections Pakistan Dunya News" (http://dunyanews.tv/index.ph
p/en/Pakistan/233934-Afzal-Khan-reveals-rigging-in-2013-elections). dunyanews.tv. Retrieved 8 January
2016.
365. "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-15
7749-Elections-2013-were-rigged,-alleges-Afzal-Khan-).
366. "Dunya News: Pakistan:-Opposition leader Khurshid Shah suggests mid-term ..." (http://dunyanews.tv/in
dex.php/en/Pakistan/238947-Opposition-leader-Khurshid-Shah-suggests-midterm-). dunyanews.tv.
Retrieved 8 January 2016.
367. Ghauri, Irfan (30 September 2014). "PM should take it upon himself to announce early polls: Khursheed
Shah" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/769232/pm-should-take-it-upon-himself-to-announce-early-polls-says
-khursheed-shah/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
368. "Shooting the messenger in Pakistan" (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/05/shooting-messenger-paki
stan-150503055834700.html). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
369. "Bonus shares: Government misleads IMF on tax rate" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/873127/bonus-shares-
government-misleads-imf-on-tax-rate/). The Express Tribune. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
370. Bhatti, AFP | Imtiaz Ali | Irfan Haider | Haseeb (27 March 2016). "Nearly 2,000 pro-Qadri protesters
continue sit-in outside Parliament" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1248261). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved
29 March 2016.
371. Abbasi, Ikram Junaidi | Kashif (28 March 2016). "Violent mobs catch law enforcers off guard" (http://ww
w.dawn.com/news/1248362). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
372. AP (29 March 2016). "Around 700 pro-Qadri protesters remain in Islamabad's Red Zone" (http://www.da
wn.com/news/1248676/around-700-pro-qadri-protesters-remain-in-islamabads-red-zone). Dawn.
Pakistan. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
373. "D-Chowk protesters call off sit-in after 'successful negotiations' with govt The Express Tribune" (htt
p://tribune.com.pk/story/1075471/pro-qadri-supporters-remain-defiant-despite-govt-ultimatum/). The
Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
374. "Health insurance plan unimplemented" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1080610/health-insurance-plan-un
implemented/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
375. "PM's health scheme beset by serious setbacks The Express Tribune" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1079
418/pms-health-scheme-beset-by-serious-setbacks/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
376. "Pakistan's Imran Khan backs off from threat to shut down capital" (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-p
akistan-politics-protests-idUSKBN12W3AI). Reuters. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
377. "Pakistan: 4 Leftist social media activists go missing in a week, according to NGO, relatives" (http://indi
anexpress.com/article/world/salman-haider-waqas-goraya-asim-saeed-ahmed-raza-naseer-pakistan-4-lefti
st-social-media-activists-vanish-in-a-week-according-to-ngo-relatives-4465708/). The Indian Express. 9
January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
378. "Pakistan's misguided obsession with infrastructure" (http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21715032-go
vernment-building-more-airports-roads-and-railways-even-though-existing-ones-are?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/paki
stan_s_misguided_obsession_with_infrastructure). The Economist. 21 January 2017. ISSN 0013-0613 (ht
tps://www.worldcat.org/issn/0013-0613). Retrieved 20 January 2017.
379. Web Edition (20 June 2011). "Nawaz spoke Bal Thakeray's language" (http://www.thenews.com.pk/New
sDetail.aspx?ID=17347). The News International. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
380. Correspondent, Our. "Nawaz received heated criticism for remarking the legendary Prime minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto". The News Intelligence Unit. The News Intelligence (1989 report).
381. "Pakistan's Election: The Millionaires Versus The Billionaires" (http://www.ibtimes.com/pakistans-electi
on-millionaires-versus-billionaires-1178073). IB Times. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
382. Kharal, Asad (11 November 2011). "Nawaz Sharif owns only one sugar mill?" (http://tribune.com.pk/stor
y/287439/nawaz-sharif-only-owns-one-sugar-mill/). The Express Tribune. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
383. "Raiwind palace can't bring revolution: Q" (http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-e
nglish-online/national/31-Dec-2010/Raiwind-palace-cant-bring-revolution-Q). The Nation. 31 December
2010. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
384. KHAN, IFTIKHAR A.; ALI, KALBE (3 January 2014). "The mystery of Raiwind palace ownership" (htt
p://www.dawn.com/news/1078082). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
385. Khan, Iftikhar A. (31 May 2013). "Leaders' wealth Shahbaz richer than Nawaz" (http://www.dawn.co
m/news/1014984). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
386. Iftikhar A. Khan Kalbe Ali. "PM Sharif among billionaire lawmakers" (http://www.dawn.com/news/10
76465/pm-sharif-among-billionaire-lawmakers). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
387. Akbar, Ali (8 January 2015). "ECP releases Parliamentarians' list of assets" (http://www.dawn.com/news/
1155704). Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
388. "Here are the famous politicos in 'the Wikileaks of the mega-rich' " (http://fusion.net/story/287227/famou
s-presidents-shell-companies-trove/). Fusion.
389. "Panama Papers: List of Pakistani politicians, businessmen who own companies abroad" (http://www.pak
istantoday.com.pk/2016/04/04/national/panama-papers-list-of-pakistani-politicians-businessmen-who-ow
n-companies-abroad/). Pakistan Today. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
390. Cheema, Uma (4 April 2016). "The Panama Papers: Pages From Pakistan" (https://web.archive.org/web/
20160406024911/http://cirp.pk/index.php/2016/04/04/the-panama-papers-pages-from-pakistan/).
Archived from the original (http://cirp.pk/index.php/2016/04/04/the-panama-papers-pages-from-pakista
n/) on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
391. "The Panama Papers: Pages from Pakistan" (http://cirp.pk/index.php/2016/04/04/the-panama-papers-pag
es-from-pakistan). Center for Investigative Reporting in Pakistan (CIRP). 4 April 2016. Retrieved
5 April 2016.
392. "Nawaz Sharif family owned, mortgaged six London properties via British Virgin Islands" (http://indiane
xpress.com/article/world/world-news/nawaz-sharif-family-properties-panama-papers/). The Indian
Express. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
393. Saeed Shah (22 April 2016). "Pakistan Prime Minister Upgrades Probe into Panama Papers Affair:
Premier calls for a commission of inquiry made up of sitting judges, instead of retired" (https://www.wsj.
com/articles/pakistan-prime-minister-upgrades-probe-into-panama-papers-affair-1461344499). The Wall
Street Journal. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
394. "I do not own any company or property abroad: Maryam Nawaz" (http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2016/0
4/i-do-not-own-any-company-or-property-abroad-maryam). Samaa TV. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April
2016.
395. Nicholas Shaxson (April 2013). "A Tale of Two Londons" (http://www.vanityfair.com/style/society/2013/
04/mysterious-residents-one-hyde-park-london). Vanity Fair. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
396. "Hasan Nawaz SHARIF" (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/kM0CgffbZ8v1ErXqyuaA3pudK
Yg/appointments). Companies House. Gov.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
397. "Nawaz's son owns London apartment, offshore companies" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/1060176/nawaz
s-son-owns-london-apartment-offshore-companies/). The Express Tribune. 6 April 2006. Retrieved
18 April 2016.
398. Irfan Ghauri (15 April 2016). "All Pakistanis named in Panama Papers face probe" (http://tribune.com.p
k/story/1084862/offshore-irregularities-all-pakistanis-named-in-leaks-face-probe/). Retrieved 18 April
2016.
399. Bhatti, Haseeb (28 July 2017). "Nawaz Sharif steps down as PM after SC's disqualification verdict" (http
s://www.dawn.com/news/1348191). Dawn (newspaper).
400. "Panama Case verdict: Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies PM Nawaz Sharif" (https://en.dailypakistan.c
om.pk/headline/panama-case-verdict-pakistan-supreme-court-disqualifies-pm-nawaz-sharif/). Daily
Pakistan. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
401. Rasmussen, Sune Engel (28 July 2017). "Pakistani court removes PM Nawaz Sharif from office in
Panama Papers case" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/28/pakistani-court-disqualifies-pm-n
awaz-sharif-from-office). The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
402. "Supreme Court's complete order in Panama Papers case" (https://www.dawn.com/news/1348209/suprem
e-courts-complete-order-in-panama-papers-case). DAWN.COM. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
403. "Panama Papers hearing LIVE updates: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif disqualified from holding office" (htt
p://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/panama-papers-hearing-live-updates-prime-minister-nawaz-sharif-
verdict-pakistan-supreme-court-4770732/). indianexpress.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017. retrieved July
28,2017
Further readings and sources
Boone, Jon (17 May 2013). "Nawaz Sharif: A rightwing tycoon who has won over leftist liberals for
now". Editorial and special report published by American journalist Jon Boone. Islamabad: The
Guardian, Pakistan Bureau. The Guardian, Pakistan Bureau. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
"BBC: Profile of Nawaz Sharif". BBC News. 11 December 2000. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
"BBC, Timeline: Pakistan's political rivals". BBC News. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 15 September
2012.
"Nawaz Sharif becomes Prime Minister". Story of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 19 March
2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
"Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) Pakistan". PML-N. Archived from the original on 8 June
2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
"PML N Nawaz Sharif's Profile". elections.com.pk. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
"Nawaz Sharif in 2008". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 15 September
2012.
Cooper, Helene; Mazzetti, Mark (20 July 2009). "Nawaz Sharif". The New York Times. Retrieved
15 September 2012.
Williamson, Martin (28 November 2007). "Cricket tragics: Eleven politicians who would have preferred
to have been watching cricket instead". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 September 2012.

External links
Official website
PML(N)
"Profile of Nawaz Sharif". ESPNcricinfo.
 Political offices

Preceded by Chief Minister of Punjab Succeeded by

Sadiq Hussain Qureshi 19851990 Ghulam Haider Wyne

Preceded by Succeeded by
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi Balakh Sher Mazari
19901993
Acting Acting

Preceded by Succeeded by
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Balakh Sher Mazari Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi
1993
Acting Acting

Preceded by Leader of the Opposition Succeeded by

Benazir Bhutto 19931996 Benazir Bhutto

Preceded by Succeeded by
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Malik Meraj Khalid Pervez Musharraf
19971999
Acting as Chief Executive of Pakistan

Preceded by
Minister of Defence Succeeded by
Shahid Hamid
19971999 Pervez Musharraf
Acting

Minister of Finance
Preceded by Succeeded by
Acting
Sartaj Aziz Ishaq Dar
1998

Succeeded by
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Preceded by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
20132017
Mir Hazar Khan Khoso Acting
Acting
Minister of Defence Succeeded by
2013 Khawaja Asif

Party political offices

Leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-

Preceded by Succeeded by
Nawaz
Fida Mohammad Khan Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif
19931999

Leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-

Preceded by Succeeded by
Nawaz
Shahbaz Sharif TBD
20112017

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nawaz_Sharif&oldid=793783117"

This page was last edited on 3 August 2017, at 22:40.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may
apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered
trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.