Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is a prominent Pakistani politician and businessman, who has had a long and distinguished career in public service. Born on 23 September 1951 in Lahore, Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif is the younger brother of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He is the current president of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022.
Shehbaz Sharif’s political career began in 1988 when he was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. In 1990, he was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan and subsequently re-elected to the Punjab Assembly in 1993, where he was named Leader of the Opposition. In 1997, he was elected as Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time, making him the first person to hold office twice in Pakistan’s history.
After the 1999 Pakistani coup d’état, Shehbaz, along with his family, spent years of self-exile in Saudi Arabia, returning to Pakistan in 2007. In 2008, after the PML-N’s victory in Punjab province in the general election, Shehbaz was appointed Chief Minister for a second term. He was elected as Chief Minister of Punjab for the third time in the 2013 general election and served his term until his party’s defeat in the 2018 general election.
During his tenure as chief minister, Shehbaz Sharif initiated ambitious infrastructure projects in Punjab, which transformed the province’s infrastructure and boosted its economic growth. He was noted for his efficient governance and enjoyed a reputation as a highly competent and diligent administrator.
In 2018, after his brother Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from holding office in the wake of the Panama Papers case, Shehbaz was nominated as the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-N and subsequently as the Leader of the Opposition after the 2018 election.
In December 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) froze 23 properties belonging to Shehbaz and his son, Hamza Sharif, accusing them of money laundering. On 28 September 2020, NAB arrested Shehbaz at Lahore High Court and indicted him on charges of money laundering. He was incarcerated pending trial but was released on bail on 14 April 2021.
Amid the 2022 Pakistani political crises, Shehbaz Sharif was elected as Prime Minister on 11 April 2022 after the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. His election was seen as a significant turning point in Pakistan’s political landscape, with many hoping that his leadership would usher in a new era of stability and development.
Shehbaz Sharif is a veteran politician and administrator, who has served the people of Pakistan with distinction for over three decades. His tenure as Prime Minister is expected to be marked by a renewed focus on economic growth and development, as well as a commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
