Nawaz Sharif (Punjabi, Urdu: نواز شریف; born December 5, 1949) is a Pakistani steel magnate and national conservative, serving as the 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 until October 12, 1999. He is the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the Centre-right-conservative political force in Pakistan.
Before becoming the Prime minister, Sharif served as the ninth Chief Minister of Punjab Province from 1985 to 1990 and embarked his political career under the military regime of President General Zia-ul-Haq. An advocate and businessman, he owns Ittefaq Group, a private steel mill enterprise and one of the largest producer of iron materials, noted as being as Pakistan's one of the wealthiest investor in the steel mill business.[1] His political philosophy emphasized and reflected conservatism advocating for the free-market economy, capitalism as its economic base. His first term survived a serious constitutional crisis when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan attempted to dismissed Sharif by citing "corruption and nepotism", which Sharif strongly denied and turned to Supreme Court.[2] The apex Supreme Court of Pakistan favored the Prime minister citing that Presidential ordnance as "unconstitutional and irrelevant", therefore the government was reconstituted.[2] His first term was finally dismissed after the Pakistan Armed Forces persuaded him to resign to end the political standoff with President Ishaq Khan, which he too was forced to resigned.[2]
From 1993 until 1996, Sharif served as the Leader of the Opposition. In 1997, he was elected on for a second term by an overwhelming margin after defeating Benazir Bhutto whose government was dismissed on corruption allegations by her own-puppet President Farooq Leghari.[3] During his second term, he notably ordered Pakistan's first nuclear tests (see Chagai-I and Chagai-II) in response to India's second nuclear tests, conducted roughly two weeks ago in May 1998, as part of his Tit for tat policy— a policy he termed and coined shortly.[4][5] In 1999, Sharif controversially appointed Pervez Musharraf— then lieutenant-general and then-serving commander of the I Strike Corps— as the Chief of Army Staff, promoting him to the 4-star rank after Sharif dismissing General Jehangir Karamat.[6] Sharif later violated the code of conduct of Pakistan Armed Forces when he controversially approved the appointment General Pervez Musharraf to an another prestigious 4-star assignment, elevating the General Musharraf as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.[6] His decision forced Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Fasih Bokhari to resign from the Navy, and received strong criticism for making this political move by the media and the opposition led by Benazir Bhutto.[6]
Despite achieving two-third majority,[3] Sharif's approval rating fell dramatically due to rising unemployment and record foreign debt,[7] which he was unable to control in 1998 after ordering the tests.[6] Problems with Judicial authorities and with Pakistan Armed Forces further escalated after Sharif ordered a complete evacuation of Pakistan Armed Forces from Kargil, and he was finally ousted in an military coup d'état led by General Musharraf after Nawaz attempted to relieve General Musharraf as Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.[6] He dramatically returned to Pakistan in late 2007 after eight years of forced exile by General Musharraf in a secret contract he claimed that he was forced to sign in. Now in Pakistan, Sharif successfully called for Musharraf's impeachment and the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Sharif was born in Lahore, West Pakistan[8] on 25 December 1949.[9] His father, Muhammad Sharif, was an upper middle-class businessman and industrialist who had migrated from Amritsar district to Pakistan during the 1947 Indian partition.[8] His family is of Kashmiri-Punjabi origin.[8] His father followed the teachings of the Ahl al-Hadith.[10] His family owns Ittefaq Group, a multimillion dollar steel conglomerate.[11] 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. And his daughter Maryam Nawaz is also in politics and a leader of his party.
He went to Saint Anthony High School.[9] He graduated from the Government College University, Lahore with an art and business degree and then received a law degree from the University of Punjab.[9][12] He is married to Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif.[13]
Nawaz Sharif started his political career during the time of nationalization policy of former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[8] The Sharif family was financially devastated after discoverying that the family business was lost into the hands of the government, and Sharif jumped into national politics soon after.[8] In 1976, Sharif politically motivated himself and joined the Pakistan Muslim League, a conservative front rooted from Punjab Province, initially focused to regain the control of his steel industry from the hands of Bhutto's government.[8] In May 1980 Ghulam Jilani Khan, the recently-appointed Governor of the Punjab Province and a former Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), initiated a search for new urban leaders, and Sharif was one of the men he found and promoted, quickly making him Finance Minister of the Punjab.[14] 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.[8]
He maintained close relations with the Zia-ul-Haq, who soon agreed to return to him his private steel mill which was had been lost during the wave of nationalization by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[8] 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 — a conservative political alliance that supported Sharif.[8]
In 1981, he initially joined as a member of the Punjab Advisory Council[12] under General Ghulam Jilani Khan, the Governor of the Province.[14] Since his early career, Sharif has been a strong vocal of capitalism and strongly opposed its inverse, the nationalization.[8] In 1980s, Sharif gained influence on General Zia-ul-Haq who had previously agreed to return his steel industry to him, convincing the General to denationalize and deregulate the industries in order to improve the economy.[8] Under the Military government of Lieutenant-General Ghulam Jilani Khan, Sharif was appointed as the provisional finance minister and successfully attempted to denationalize all of the government-owned industries to private sector.[12] As provincial finance minister, he presented development-oriented budgets to the military government.[12] 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.[8] 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.[8] Due to its huge financial capital in 1980s, Punjab Province was Pakistan's richest province and Punjab Province's better standard of living comparing to other provinces.[8]
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.[14] Sharif secured the landslide victory during the non-political parties 1985 elections and became Chief Minister of Punjab with the support of the army.[8] He served for two consecutive terms as Chief Minister of Punjab Province, the most populous province of Pakistan.[15] Because of his vast popularity, he received the nickname "Lion of the Punjab".[16] As chief minister, he stressed welfare and development activities and the maintenance of law and order.[12]
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 ministerial ship.[12] 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.[12] In 1985, General Zia dismissed the government of hand-picked Prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo, and called for new elections.[12] 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.[12]
After General Zia's death in August 1988, Zia's political party — Pakistan Muslim League (Pagara Group) — split into two factions.[17] Sharif led the Zia loyalist Fida Group against the Junejo Group, led by Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo.[17] The Fida Group later took on the mantle of the PML while the Junejo Group became known as the JIP.[17] 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).[17] The alliance was co-led by Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Sharif to oppose Benazir Bhutto's PPP in the elections.[17] The IJI gained substantial majorities in the Punjab and Sharif was reelected Chief Minister of Punjab.[17]
In December 1989, Sharif decided to remain in the provincial Punjab Assembly rather than hold a seat in the National Assembly.[18] In early 1989, the PPP government failed to unseat Sharif through a no-confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly.[17] Sharif retained control by a vote of 152 to 106.[17]
The conservative forces for the first times in the country's history, came into the power under a democratic system, under the leadership of the Nawaz Sharif.[19] Nawaz Sharif became the 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1 November 1990 as well as he was the head of IJI and succeeded Benazir Bhutto as Prime minister.[19] IJI had been created and funded by the Zia loyalist in the ISI, it received Rs 15 million from the ISI.[20] He campaigned on a conservative platform and vowed to reduce government corruption.[19] He focused on improving the nation's infrastructure and spurred the growth of digital telecommunication.[19] He privatized government banks and opened the door for further industrial privatization, and disbanded Zulfikar Bhutto's policies.[19] He legalized foreign money exchange to be transacted through private money exchangers.[19] His privatization policies were continued by both Benazir Bhutto in mid 1990s and Shaukat Aziz as well in 2000s.[19]
Sharif took steps to initiate Islamization and conservatism at once.[19] 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.[19]
He took many steps to raise the issue of Kashmir on international forums, to transfer power peacefully in Afghanistan so to put an end to the drug smugglers and illegal transaction of unregistered weapons across the border which was promoting then increasing numbers of dacoits in the country.[19] Sharif intensified General Zia-ul-Haq's controversial Islamization policies, and introduced Islamic Laws such as the Shariat Ordinance and Bait-ul-Maal (to help poor orphans widows, etc.); Moreover he gave tasks to the Ministry of Religion to prepare reports and recommendations for steps taken for Islamization. He ensured the establishment of three committees.[19]
- 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.[19] Nawaz Sharif was pretty confident that he had majority in the assembly thus he ruled with considerable confidence. He had disputes with three successive army chiefs.[19] 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.[21]
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.[22] A major international incident took place in the Middle East with Iraq invading the Kuwait which dismay the world. Sharif's government criticized Iraq for invading the fellow Muslim country, which led to strained the Pakistan's relationships with Iraq.[22] The relationships continued to be strained as Pakistan seek to tighten its relations with Iran, and his foreign policy continued by Benazir Bhutto, Pervez Musharraf until the removal of Saddam Hussain in 2003.[22]
Sharif contended with former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg over the 1991 Gulf War (See Operation Desert Storm).[22] Under the direction of General Beg, Pakistan Armed Forces actively participated in the conflict and the Army Special Service Group and the Naval Special Service Group was rushed to Saudi Arabia in order to provide intense security to Saudi royal family.[22] Sharif also contended the upcoming Chief of Army Staff General Asif Navaz over the paramilitary operation in Sindh Province (See Operation Clean-Up).[22]
Sharif, during his first term, founded difficult working with PPP and the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), a potent force in Karachi.[23] The MQM and PPP opposed Sharif widely due to his focused on beautifying Punjab and Kashmir while neglecting Sindh.[23] 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.[23] Despite MQM had formed government with Sharif, more and more problems were mounted between Sharif and the MQM in 1992.[23] 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.[23] During this time, the democratic socialist Pakistan Peoples Party remained quiet and neutral while watching the impact of the cold war between liberal and conservative forces.[23] 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).[22] Launched in 1992, violence erupted in Karachi and brought an economic halt in the country that dismantle Sharif's industrialization and investment that was being brought by Sharif.[23] Benazir Bhutto, during the course of this episode, remained silent as she too had opposed the MQM.[23] His operation continued by Benazir also, but due to amid pressure exerted by her brother Murtaza Bhutto, the operation came to halt.[23] The period of 1992-1994 is considered the bloodiest years in the history of the city, with many went missing while many innocent were killed.[23]
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.[23] 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.[23] This action led Sharif to claim the exclusive mandate of entire Pakistan, and for the first time in his political career, Sharif and his party had the control of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber, Kashmir and the Punjab Provinces.[23]
Sharif takes the credit building the largest superhighway in Pakistan as part of his industrialization policy.
Shortly after taking power, Sharif announced that his government would carry out a national reconstruction programme to industrialize Pakistan. Acknowledged since that the unemployment had became Pakistan's greatest disadvantage in economic growth and that only industrial and privatization growth could solve the economic slow down.[19] In 1990, Sharif announced the nuclear policy and aimed to continue the peaceful atomic programme benefit for country's economic infrastructure. Sharif expanded nuclear energy program in entire country and peaceful and economic infrastructure was extensively built by him by the 1990s.[19] Many of the nuclear medicine and nuclear engineering projects were completed under his government as part of Sharif's Atoms for Peace program.
Sharif also upgraded the Islamic laws such as Shariat Ordinance and Bait-ul-Maal (to help poor orphans widows) to drive the country to became a Pakistan a truly Islamic welfare state.[19] Sharif family was an affectee of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's nationalization policy.[19] A number of important industries, such as Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd were opened up to the private sector.[19] Sharif successfully privatized the National Development Finance Corporation[19]
He introduced and inaugurated several large scale projects to stimulate the economy, such as the Ghazie-Barotah Hydropower plant and the.[19] However, unemployment remained a challenge, therefore Sharif imported thousands of privatized Yellow-cab taxis to many young Pakistanis, but this program came at a cost.[19] Few of the loans were repaid by the government and Sharif founded it difficult to privatized these taxis at low rate, since the young and poor could not afford at higher price.[19] However, Sharif indeed privatized these taxis at low rate and his steel industry was forced to pay the remaining cost.[19] During his first and second term, Sharif intensified his policies of industrialization and privatization of major industries that were nationalized by former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[19] Undoing what was previously done in 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 industrialized and privatized by him.[19] This radical move did had positive impact on country's economy and the economy progressed at an appropriate level.[19] Sharif policies were also continued by Benazir Bhutto, who nationalized only those industries that needed a government bail out plan, and by Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz in 2000s who managed to privatized all of the major industries by the end his term in 2008.[19]
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.[19] This semi-government and semi-privatized mega project was completed in November, 1997 at a cost of U.S. $989.12 million.[19] 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.[19] 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.[19]
During his first term, Sharif focused his industrialization 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 industrialization.[19] 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.[19] However, prime minister's reputation in Sindh was widely damaged because of his focused on beautifying Lahore and Kashmir while he neglected other provinces.[19] Sharif's industrialization are also target by his opponents as it was focused and circled only on Punjab and Kashmir, Sharif's native provinces.[24] His opponents argued that Sharif, as prime minister, obtained permits for building factories for himself and his business.[19] Sharif is also blamed for expanding and finance Armed Forces' secretive industrial conglomerate and, is also blamed for bribing the generals to protected himself.[24]
Sharif gave strong and vehement criticism to former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's socialist economics policies, as citing as "lamentable state of Pakistan".[24] His privatization policies were staunchly criticized by former science advisor Dr. Mubashir Hassan, calling it Sharif's privatization "unconstitutional".[24] Other PPP members also stood the fact that nationalization measures were protected by the Parliament who gave this policy a constitutional picture and status. The Peoples Party felt the privatization policies where illegal and taking place with out parliamentary approval and parliament was not taken in confidence.[24]
Bu by the end of the second 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.[7]
Sharif took steps for intense government control of science in Pakistan and the projects needed his authorization.[25] In 1991, Sharif founded and authorized 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.[25] Sharif countered the international pressure, and followed the same suit as Benazir's, and refused to make compromise to halt the program despite the United States having offered a large economic aid to Pakistan.[25] Unlike Benazir, Sharif's nuclear policy was seen less aggressive towards India and focused the atomic programme for the benefit of public usage and civil society. Unlike Benazir's nuclear policy, his set forth nuclear policy was to built civil and peaceful nuclear power, and with that vision, Sharif intensively used the integrated atomic programme for medical and economic purposes. His nuclear policy was viewed by experts as vintage Atoms for Peace program— the United States' 1950s program to use the nuclear energy for civil purposes, and to promote peaceful nuclear technology in the world as well.
In 1993, Sharif authorized 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 May 28 as the National Science Day in Pakistan.
On November 7, 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.[26] On 26 November, Sharif authorized talks with the U.S. to solve the nuclear crises after the U.S. had tightened its embargo on Pakistan, prompting Sharif to send his government's Treasure Minister Sartaj Aziz to held talks on Washington.[26] It was widely reported in Pakistan that the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Teresita Schaffer had told the Foreign Minister Shahabzada Yaqub Khan to halt the uranium enrichment programme.[26]
In December, France's Commissariat à l'énergie atomique agreed to provide a commercial 900MW power plant, but plans did not materialize as France wanted Pakistan to provide entire financial funds for the plant.[26] On December, the financial embargo was placed and the country's economy felt a distress that prompted Sharif to replace his Treasure minister.[26] 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.[26] 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.[26] 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.[26] Responding to U.S. embargo, Sharif publicly announced that: "Pakistan possessed no [atomic] bomb... Pakistan would be happy to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) but it must be provided "first" to India to do the same.[26]
Sharif intensified his move to enhance the Pakistan's integrated nuclear development and authorized projects that seemed to be important in his point of views.[25] 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.[25] 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.[25] His policies to make the nuclear program for economical use was also continued by Benazir Bhutto and Pervez Musharraf, and is still carried upon under Yousaf Raza Gillani, the current Prime minister.[25]
Sharif also lost from support the Punjab Province and Kashmir Province as well when the co-operatives societies scandal became public.[19] 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.[19] However, mismanagement of these societies led to a collapse in which millions of Pakistanis lost money in 1992.[19] 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.[19]
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.[27] 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.[27] Khan appointed Mir Blake Scher as the interim Prime Minister.[27] 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.[27] In May 26, 1993, Sharif returned to power after the Supreme Court ruled that the Presidential Order as unconstitutional and reconstituted the National Assembly on its immediate effect.[27] The Court ruled, 10-1, that the president could dissolve the assembly only if a constitutional breakdown had occurred and that the government's incompetence or corruption was irrelevant.[27]
However, issues with the President over the authority circled and a subsequent political stand off was instigated between President and Prime minister.[27] Finally, on July 1993, Sharif resigned under pressure from the Pakistan Armed Forces but negotiated a settlement that resulted in the removal of President Ghulam Ishaq Khan as well.[27] In July 1993, Chief of Army Staff General Abdul Vahied Kakar and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Shamim Allam forced President Ishaq Khan to resign from the presidency and subsequently ended the political standoff.[27] 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.[27]
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.[27] 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.[27] Benazir's government found it difficult to act effectively in the face of opposition from Sharif.[27] Benazir Bhutto also faced problems with her younger brother, Murtaza Bhutto, in her stronghold, Sindh Province.[27]
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.[27] 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.[27] 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.[27] Sharif played a major part in organizing labor 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.[27] 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.[27]
U.S. Defense Secretary, William S. Cohen, with Prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
By 1996, the national economy has came under the intense situation and deadlock, and a economic failure was soon near.[28] The continuous and large-scale of government corruption made by either Benazir Bhutto and her appointed government ministers had deteriorated the country's economy at the extreme level.[28] In the 1997 parliamentary elections, Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) won a landslide victory in the elections, brutally defeating Benazir Bhutto and her People's party.[28] Commenting on his victory, the Pakistan media and the people of Pakistan hoped that Sharif would provide a conservative but a stable government benefit for Pakistan as he promised earlier.[28] Besides Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, no other leader, in the history of Pakistan, has 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.[28] As commentary, 1997 election resulted to boost Navaz popularity and was mandate onerous task to improve the country's economy.[28] Navaz defeated Benazir Bhutto with overwhelmingly voting numbers and it was the worst defeat of Bhutto and People's party since its inception.[28] After the elections, Navaz arrived to 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 to Islamabad in order to take the oath.[28][29] Sharif was sworn as Prime Minister in the early morning of on 17 February to serve a non-consecutive second term.[30] 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.[28]
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.[31] However, on September 17 of 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,
[31]
On December 1, 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.[31]
Under his leadership, the nuclear program had became vital part of Pakistan's economical policy as the program had became back-bone of economy of Pakistan in 1998.[25] Sharif's willingness of signing the CTBT was seen as betraying country's atomic programme, and received intense criticism from Pakistan's opposition parties, as well as Pakistan Armed Forces.[31] Scientists such as Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood and Abdul Qadeer Khan also lobbied against Sharif's willingness of signing the CTBT in public circles, and scientific community which both public and the scientific community widely disapproved his views.[31]
Main articles:
Chagai-I and
Chagai-IIThe executive authorization of Pakistan's nuclear testing programme was an important turning point in his political career that would bring his image in to world prominence. Soon, after the prime minister learned the surprise tests conducted by India, codename Pokhran-II in May 1998, though the media.[4] Judging from country's economic situation and financial troubles, Sharif did not favor nor he opposed the authorization of the nuclear testing programme. According the former senior scientist dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Prime minister hesitant to authorized the atomic testing programme despite the Parliament gave him the go-ahead for the tests. But, Sharif came under pressure to authorize the atomic testing programme after the momentum began to build in Pakistan.[4]
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 defense. In May 1998, soon after Indian nuclear tests, Sharif vowed that his country would give a suitable reply to the Indians.[32] On May 14, 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.[33] When India tested its nuclear weapons the second time, it caused a great alarm in Pakistan and pressure mounted to built on the Prime minister. On 15 May 1998, Sharif called and chaired a National Security Council meeting in Prime minister Secretariat.[33] The Pakistan Armed Forces left the matter to elected Prime minister, though Prime minister Sharif put the Pakistan Armed Forces on high-alert.[33] The discussions went on for a few hours and encompassed the financial, diplomatic, military, strategic and national security concerns.[33] At this sensitive meeting, it has had two important agendas; first, whether or not Pakistan should conduct its nuclear tests in order to respond to Indian nuclear aggression. And, secondly, if the nuclear testing program does go ahead then which of the government science organizations— the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission or Kahuta Research Laboratories— conduct the nuclear testing as well as leading the nuclear testing program.
Mushahid Hussain Syed, Media Minister, was the first person to propose 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 reserves of the country and the effect of inevitable economic sanctions which would be imposed on Pakistan if it carried out the tests.[33] When it comes to voting, the Prime Minister did not oppose or propose the tests.[33] The remainder spoke in favor of conducting the tests.[33] However according to Dr. A.Q. Khan, the Prime Minister was against nuclear tests and instead had done a deal with the United States wherby Pakistan would get substantial aid in exchange for not testing weapons.[34] Former Chief of Army Staff Musharraf said "Nawaz Sharif was against conducting the tests but agreed under pressure from others".[35]
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.[33] The meeting concluded without any resolution of the two agenda points. On May 16, 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.[32] On the morning of 17 May 1998, Sharif summoned Ishfaq Ahmad and asked him for his opinion on two points discussed on 15 May.[33] Dr. Ahmed told the Prime Minister that the decision to test or not to test was that of the Government of Pakistan.[33] Ahmad also acknowledged that PAEC was ready for the capability of carrying out the tests.[33] 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.[33] 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."[33] 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.[36] Prime minister Sharif, at first, was hesitant towards the nuclear test program and its economical turn out if the tests are ordered.[36] 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.[36]
On May 18, Prime minister Sharif ordered PAEC to make preparation for the tests, but remain on stand-by for the final decision.[33] In his own words, Sharif called dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and ordered him, "Conduct the explosion!".[4] 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.[4] On May 21, Sharif issued orders to conduct nuclear tests as a suitable reply to India, and authorized the nuclear weapon testing program the same day.[36] A Boeing-737 airline from Pakistan International Airlines was readily made available for PAEC scientists, engineers, and technicians to Balochistan.[33]
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.[33] 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.[4][33] After these test, the Prime minister appeared on Pakistan Television Corporation and took the nation on confidence and addressed the world:
If [Pakistan] had wanted, she (Pakistan) would have conducted nuclear tests 15-20 years ago.... but the abject poverty of the people of the
region dissuaded... [Pakistan] from doing so. But the [w]orld, instead of putting pressure on (India)... not to take the
destructive road.... imposed all kinds of sanctions on [Pakistan] for no fault of her..... If (Japan) had its
own nuclear capability.. (cities of)...
Hiroshima and Nagasaki would not have suffered
atomic destruction at the
hands of the... United States.
After weeks of anticipation, Pakistan surprised the world by conducting its own nuclear tests.[33] 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 minimize the effects of economic sanctions. This was detrimental to the account holders.
He put the Pakistan Armed Forces on high alert in order to defend country's nuclear installations. He justified the tests on national security grounds, as they demonstrated Pakistan's nuclear deterrent capabilities against an armed Indian nuclear programme. Under his premiership, Pakistan became the first Muslim country and seventh nation to become a nuclear power.[33]
Main article:
Youm-e-TakbeerIn 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.[33] 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.[38] On May 30, Sharif appeared after immediately the tests, and informed the world, "Today, we have settled a score and have carried out six successful nuclear tests".[4] 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 criticized the nuclear testings which was forcefully silenced by the emerging public opinion favoring Sharif and the nuclear tests.[38] Soon after the atomic tests on 1515hrs (May 28) and 1315hrs (May 30), 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.[37]
On the day of atomic testing, the military and public policy makers, lawmakers and legislators, senior journalists, and the influential members of the civil society at the Parliament strongly chaired for the tests, loud slogans and songs of "Pakistan Zindabad" (long live Pakistan) were sung, and the tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was heavily paid by the parliamentarians from all political parties of Pakistan.[33] The parliamentarians and the Leader of the Opposition Benazir Bhutto had also congratulated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Armed Forces thanking for making its "bold decision" in spite of whatever the economical outcomes were.[37] 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.[4]
The Pakistan Academy of Sciences also thanked Sharif and his government for having been given the opportunity to prove their capabilities.[38] As in return, Sharif established the National Center for Theoretical Physics (NCTP) and inaugurated the Abdus Salam Museum in 1999.[38] 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.[39] Even as of today, Sharif and his party takes all the credit for authorizing these tests, and annually held celebrating public functions in all over the country. Without any doubts, Sharif posed to became Pakistan's most favorable 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.[38]
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".[37]
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 delayed 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 criticized 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 science Sharif was dismissed; the satellite was finally launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome December 10, 2001 at 0915hrs by Space Research Commission.
Sharif strengthened relations with Muslim world, Turkey, and Europe.[40] The year he was elected, Sharif made a state visit to Malaysia and Singapore where Sharif succeeded to signed a economic and free trade agreements with both countries.[40] It was a a trilateral trade bloc in South Asia and Premiers of Singapore, Malaysia, and Pakistan had successfully signed the agreement.[40] Following the agreement, the work on comprehensive frame work to enhance collaboration in defense, economic and private sector was launched and completed in 1998.[40] One of the core issue was the Malaysia's agreement on sharing its space technology to Pakistan.[40] Both Malaysia and Singapore assured their support for Pakistan to join Asia–Europe Meeting.[40] However, it was not until 2008, Pakistan and India became part of the treaty.[40]
On January 1998, Prime minister Sharif paid a state visit to South Korea, where he successfully signed the bilateral and economical agreements with South Korean President Kim Young-sam.[40] Sharif also urged the North Korea to make peace and improve its ties with South Korea, his statement caused a diversion in Pakistan-North Korea relations.[40] On April 1998, Sharif went on to visit Italy, Germany, Poland, and Belgium to promote economic ties.[40] He said in Brussels at an official reception, "We [Pakistan] [s]eek understanding and cooperation with Europe".[40] He signed a number of agreements to enlarge economic cooperation with Italy and Belgium, besides an agreement with European Union (EU) for the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights.[40] In February 1997, the Prime Minister had meeting with Jiang Zemin, the Chinese President and Li Peng, the Premier, for economic cooperation.[40] Two conferences were specially organised in Beijing and Hongkong to promote Chinese investment in Pakistan.[40]
However, Sharif's effort seemed to be wasted when Sharif ordered the nuclear tests on 1998. Following these tests, the Foreign policy of Pakistan was much in trouble position since its 1971 disaster.[40] Pakistan, at United Nations, failed to gather any support from its allies.[40] Trade agreements were abrogated by Europe, United States, and Asian bloc.[40] While, Sharif was praised to carried out tests domestically. Sharif was heavily criticized for ordering internationally.[40] Pakistan's nuclear weapons and energy programme was targeted on multiple times over its involvement for spreading the nuclear proliferation. United Arab Emirates and Saudia Arabia, however did not criticized Pakistan but both neither issued any statement.[40] On 7 June 1998, Sharif went to visit UAE for talks on the situation in South Asia after nuclear tests in the region.[40] He thanked the Government for their support after India conducted five nuclear tests on May 11 and 13.[40] The major shift in his conservative foreign policy was notice on June 11, 1998, when Nawaz Sharif authorized 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.[31] 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.[31] On June 1998, Israel had directed a secret courier to Pakistan that Israeli officials had feared that Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi's visit to Pakistan shortly after its May 1998 nuclear weapons tests was a sign that Pakistan was preparing to sell nuclear technology to Iran.[31]
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.[41]
Since both countries had ordered their nuclear tests, both Prime ministers proceeded towards maintaining peace and security.[42] In 1998, both governments signed an agreement recognizing the principle of building an environment of peace and security and resolving all bilateral conflicts, which became the basis of the Lahore Declaration.[42] On February 1, 1999, Prime minister Sharif made a breakthrough with India when he invited his counter part to Pakistan. On February 19, Indian premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee paid a historic state visit to Pakistan traveling on the inaugural bus service connecting the Indian capital of New Delhi with the major Pakistan's cultural city of Lahore, establishing a major transport link for the peoples of both nations.[42] On February 21, both Prime ministers signed the bilateral agreement with a memorandum of understanding to ensure the nuclear-free safety in South Asia.[42] 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.[42] 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.[42] To some Western observers, this treaty was more like as of SALT Treaties signed by both superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States.[43]
In late August 1998, he proposed a law to establish a legal system based on the Islamic principles.[44] His proposal came a week after 10-year commemorations of the late President Zia ul-Haq. The Cabinet removed some of its controversial aspects.[45][46] The National Assembly approved and passed the bill on 10 October 1998 by 151 votes to 16.[47] 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.[47] With passing these amendments, Sharif became the strongest prime minister that the country has ever seen since its independence.[47] However, these amendments failed to achieve two-thirds majority in the Senate, which was still was under control by 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 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.
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.[48] 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.[48] When legislators of different parties took the case Supreme Court, Sharif was furious and frustrated with the actions of the Supreme Court.[48] Sharif openly criticized Chief Justice Sajad Alishah, inviting a notice of contempt.[48] 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.[48]
Sharif manipulated the ranks of senior judges, deposing two judges close to Chief Justice.[48] The deposed judges challenged Sharif's orders on procedural grounds by filing a petition at Quetta High Court on November 26, 1997.[48] The Chief Justice was restrained by his fellow judges from adjudicating in the case against the Prime minister.[48] On November 28, 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.[48] 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.[48] The Associate Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court, Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui declared himself as acting Chief Justice.[48]
Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah, however, continued to assert his authority and persisted the hearing of Sharif's case.[48] On November 30, 1997, while the hearing of case was proceeded, Sharif's cabinet ministers and large number of his supporters entered in the Supreme Court building, halting and disrupting the proceedings.[48] 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.[48] 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.[48] The Prime minister forced President Farooq Leghari to resign, and appoint Wasim Sajjad as acting President.[48] After the President's removal, Sharif ousted Chief Justice Sajad Ali Shah to end the constitutional crises once for all.[48]
On November 29, 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.[49] 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 apologizing for there wrong doing in 1997.[50]
During the Benazir Bhutto's period, the country suffered the terrorist attack on Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad that led the rift between relationship between 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.[28] The Supreme Court later rendered the Act unconstitutional. However, Sharif made few amendments, and received the permission of Supreme Court to established these courts.[28] However, it was the Anti-Terrorism Courts that were used by General Pervez Musharraf to prosecute Nawaz Sharif in alleged terrorism/hijacking case in 1999.
Prime minister Navaz Sharif in the White House, 1998.
From the 1981 until the military coup against him in 1999, Sharif enjoyed a strong and extremely friendly and cordial relations with the Pakistan Armed Forces — the only civilian leader to have cordial friendship and relationships with the military's establishment at that time.[8] Sharif pressed his tough rhetoric actions and repeatedly violates the constitution as well as the military code of conduct.
He later had severe political confrontation with in 1999 when he tried to replace General Musharraf with generals loyal to him that resulted in a coup d'état which removed him from office.[8] 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.[8] His term was due to end on 9 January 1999.[8] However, in October 1998 Sharif had a falling out with General Karamat over the latter’s advocacy of a "National Security Council".[8] Sharif interpreted this move to be a conspiracy to return the military to a more active role in Pakistan politics.[8]
In 1999, after Sharif's removal, the National Security Council was indeed established by his successor.[8] 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.[8] Sharif then also appointed General Musharraf as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee despite Musharraf's lack of seniority to Admiral Bokhari.[8] In protest, Admiral Fasih Bokhari resigned from his post as Chief of Naval Staff.[8]
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.[51] In October 1998, Sharif forced and fired General Karamat over the serious issues on National Security Council disputes.[8] The dismissal of General Karamat was least popular decision in Sharif's prime ministerial ship, and his approval ratings plummeted.[51] Military lawyers and civilian law experts saw this step as clear "violation" of Pakistan Constitution and as clear violation of military justice code.[51] 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,
[52]
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.[52] She later quoted that:
During his time, Sharif was a very powerful Prime Minister with no power at all since the country's independence. Power is tangible when you can exercise it. In Pakistan, the (Nawaz) Government doesn't seem capable of exercising it.
The relieve of General Karamat was a heated issue discussed even by his senior government ministers.[53] The most-senior and the former Treasury minister Sartaj Aziz gave vehement criticism and showed opposition to the Prime minister for making this move.[53] 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.[53]
| “ |
It came to the conclusion that in relieving General Jehangir Karamat, Prime minister Sharif had committed a "blunder". He also failed to recognize that despite his heavy mandate, it was not advisable for him to dismiss two army chiefs in less than a year. In doing so he had overplayed his hands and effectively derailed the democratic process for nine long year... |
” |
|
—Sartaj Aziz, 2009, [53]
|
However, after being persuaded by his younger brother and then (also as of current) Chief minister of Punjab Province Shahbaz Sharif and his close friend Nisar Ali Khan, to appoint General Musharraf as the next Chief of Army Staff, despite his lack of seniority.[53] This came to shock in the media and the opposition, Aziz sent his recommendation to appoint either Lieutenant-General Ali Kuli Khan or Admiral Fasih Bokhari as the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, to redress the injustice done to both officers.[53]
Prime minister Sharif took the recommendation but appointed General Musharraf as Chairman of Joint Chiefs after accepting the request of Shahbaz Sharif.[53] Appointing General Musharraf as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, plummeted his mandate in the public after headlines in the media were made, opposition also gave intense criticism to Sharif that he was unable to effectively countered or justified his actions to the public.[53] His senior minister, Sartaj Aziz, also expressed displeased after marking that: Sharif "committed a blunder", failing to recognize that despite his heavy mandate, it was not advisable for him to dismiss (two) army chiefs in less than a year.[53] In doing so Sharif had made a serious of these blunders after relieving [General] Karamatt, but yet, (an) unforgettable mistake that he would never be able to cover the damage afterwords...", Sartaj Aziz noted.[53]
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.[54] 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.[55] 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.[55] Admiral's resignation was made public domain and Sharif accepted the resignation of Admiral Bokhari onwards.[55]
The year of 1999 brought a tremendous political upheavals and dramatic changes in Pakistan as well as for the Prime minister.[8] Despite Sharif tremendous approval in 1998, Sharif's popularity graph gradually went down after he announced the emergency in Pakistan, a decision which dismayed the people of Pakistan.[8] Sharif's popularity was also undermined when Pakistan became involved with unpopular and undeclared war with India in Northern front.[8] This undeclared war was fought on the northern fronts of India and Pakistan, one of world's most coldest and highest points in the world.[8] Intensified criticism of this plan began to take place in Pakistan's private media, and General Musharraf took the whole matter to the media, and held the prime minister responsible for this misadventure.[8] Confrontation with military began sometime in 1999, starting first with Admiral Fasih Bokhari, CNS.[50] Tension arisen between the Prime minister and the Admiral in 1999 when Admiral Bokhari lodged a powerful protest against the Kargil debacle and called for court-martial of Pervez Musharraf in private television channels.[50]
During the Kargil War in 1999, Sharif claimed to have no knowledge of the planned attacks, saying that Pervez Musharraf acted alone.[56] 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.[57] 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.[57] 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.[58] 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.[59]
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.[57] 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.[57]
The year of 1999, Sharif's government also declined to accept the bodies of young paramilitary and army soldiers who unknowingly went onto participate in secret war in Western front against the Northern Alliance.[60] This decision sparked the wide spread of demonstration and protests against Sharif's government in Western Pakistan, which forced Sharif to accept the bodies.[60] Following this incident, Sharif tried to intervene in this matter and tried to stop the Army's support to Taliban.[61] However, then-Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf had stopped Sharif and called Taliban as Pakistan's most valuable assets.[61]
In August 1999, two Indian Air Force MiG-21FL shot down the Pakistan Navy's reconnaissance aircraft, Breguet Atlantique, near at the Rann of Kutch.[62] This resulted the heavy loss of Pakistan Navy's 16 naval officers as well as the expensive aircraft.[62] This was the heaviest and largest biggest combat-related casualty for the navy since the naval hostilities in 1971[62] Already suffering with public disapproval and bad popularity, this incident of downing of the aircraft came at a particularly bad juncture for the Prime minister who was already under attack from politicians and the civil society for ordering a withdrawal of its troops from Kargil.[62] Sharif failed to gather any foreign support against India after this incident, and the navy saw this failure as Sharif's declining of support of the navy in the war times.[62] Therefore, then-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 assumed the charge of the navy only few days ago.[62] The Prime minister dispatched the units of Pakistan Marines at the vicinity to retrieved the down pilots, during this course 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) on September, 1999.[62] The relations with Pakistan Air Force also deteriorated in matter of months, when Chief of Air Staff General Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi accused the Prime minister for not taking the Air Force in confidence in matters critical to national security.[59][62]
Two months later, after escalating the tug of war with the Pakistan Armed Forces, Sharif was deposed by General Pervez Musharraf, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of Army Staff as well, and the Martial law was imposed in the entire country.[62]
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'état. However, the Captain of the A300 aircraft requesteded refuelling; therefore, Sharif ordered the plane to land at Nawabshah 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.[63] Initially, 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.[63] Hence, it was a move to deposed the senior military leadership of the Pakistan Armed Forces, that brutally backfired on the Prime minister.[63]
No protest and demonstration were held in Pakistan in support of Sharif.[63] Mmany of Sharif's cabinet ministers and his constituents were divided during the court proceedings, remained neutral and did not backed the Prime minister.[63] Dissidents such as Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and among others remained quiet and later formed Pakistan Muslim League (Q), further breaking his party into small pieces.[63] The military police initiated massive arrests of Pakistan Muslim League's workers and the leaders of the parties.[63] In Punjab and Sindh Provinces, the prisoners were held in Sindh and Punjab Police Prisons.[63] Sharif was taken to Adiala Jail where a court trial headed by Military judge was set to began.[63]
The military placed him on military trial for "kidnapping, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism and corruption".[64][65] The military court quickly convicted him in a speedy trial and gave him a life sentence.[65] 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.[64] 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.[66] Sharif's defence team blamed the military for intentionally providing their lawyers with inadequate protection.[66] The military court proceedings were widely accused of being a show trial.[67][68][69] Sources from Pakistan claimed that Musharraf and his military government's officers were in full mood to exercise tough conditions on Sharif[70] 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.[70] Sharif was also set face a case of "corruption", and received a 14 years life imprisonment additional.[71] Sharif also forced to pay $400,000.[71] The case centered on a civilian helicopter, which he said to have owned during mid-1990s.[71] 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.[70] Pakistan, under Nawaz Sharif and Saudi Arabia, under King Fahd, enjoyed extremely close business and cultural relations that is sometimes attributed as special relationships.[70] Amid pressure exerted by the U.S. President Bill Clinton and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, the military court avoided the award death sentence to Sharif.[70] 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 1980s.[70] Under an agreement facilitated by Saudi Arabia, Sharif was placed in exile for the next 10 years and through the Saudi Arabian Airlines.[70] Mr Sharif has agreed not to take part in politics in Pakistan for 21 years. He has also forfeited property worth $8.3m (£5.7m) and agreed to pay a fine of $500,000[72] Sharif traveled to Jeddah where he was received by the Saudi officials and taken to a residence managed and controlled by Saudi Government.[70] At Jaddah, the Saudi Arabian government gave Sharif a loan to established a steel mill and Sharif bought a land where he went on to established the iron-steel mill foundry that is worth millions of dollars.[70] 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.[73]
The prosecution argued that helicopter worth U.S. $1 million which he did paid, but not had paid the federal tax which is mandatory as required by the Constitution.[71] This case fought on a civilian Lahore High Court agreed with the prosecution and ordered Sharif to proof the evidences to have paid the tax which claimed by Sharif.[71] Sharif failed to cite the proper evidences, the Lahore High Court ordered Sharif to pay additional U.S. $400,000 as well as convicted with a tax eviction, and received a 14 years life imprisonment additional.[71]
On August 23, 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.[74][75]
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.[76] Muqrin stated that the initial agreement was for 10 years but "these little things do not affect relations.”[76] Muqrin expressed hope that Sharif would continue with the agreement.[76]
On 10 September 2007, Sharif returned from exile in London[76] to Islamabad. He was prevented from leaving the plane and he was deported to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia within hours.[77] His political career appeared to be over.[30]
On 20 November 2007, Musharraf went to Saudi Arabia as he left the country for the first time since implementing emergency rule.[78] He attempted to convince Saudi Arabia to prevent Sharif from returning until after the elections in January 2008.[78] The political role of Sharif returned to the fore after Benazir Bhutto's return a month earlier.[78] 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.[78]
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.[79] After an 11-hour procession from the airport, he reached a mosque where he offered prayers as well as criticism against Musharraf.[80]
His return to Pakistan came with only one day left to register for elections.[79] This set the stage for an overnight shift of the political scene.[79]
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.[81]
For the elections, he campaigned for the restoration of the independent judges removed by emergency government decree and Musharraf's departure.[82][83]
Bhutto's assassination led to the postponement of the elections to 18 February 2008.[84] 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 Punjab.[84] Sharif condemned Bhutto's assassination and called it the "gloomiest day in Pakistan's history".[85]
Between Bhutto's assassination and the elections, the country faced a rise in attacks by militants.[86] Sharif accused Musharraf of ordering anti-terror operations that have left the country "drowned in blood."[86] Pakistan's government urged opposition leaders to refrain from holding rallies ahead of the elections, citing an escalating terrorist threat.[86] 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.[86]
On January 25, Musharraf initiated a failed four-day visit to London to use British mediation in Pakistani politics to reconcile with the Sharif brothers.[87]
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.[88] Zardari and Sharif would later create a coalition government that ousted Musharraf.
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.[89] Sharif won much public support for his uncompromising stand against Musharraf and for his insistence the judges be reinstated.[89] 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.[90]
In June 2008 by-elections, Sharif's party won 91 National Assembly seats and 180 provincial assembly seats Punjab province.[91] The Lahore seat election was postponed because of wrangling over whether Sharif was eligible to contest.[89][92]
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.[93] It included Mr Musharraf’s first seizure of power in 1999—at the expense of Nawaz Sharif, the PML(N)’s leader, whom Mr Musharraf imprisoned and exiled—and his second last November, when he declared an emergency as a means to get re-elected president.[94] The charge-sheet also listed some of Mr Musharraf’s contributions to the “war on terror”.[94]
On 11 August, the National Assembly was summoned to discuss impeachment proceedings.[95] 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.[96]
Musharraf is presently exiled to London and Sharif continues to demand he be prosecuted for treason.[97]
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,[98]
The Election Commission on 22 August announced that Presidential elections would be held on 6 September 2008, and the nomination papers could be filed starting 26 August.[99] In Pakistan, the president is elected by the two houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies, all acted as the Electoral College. There was speculation that Sharif would run for President, but on 25 August, he announced that former Supreme Court Judge and former Chief Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui would be the PML-N nominee for Presidency.[100] During this election, Justice Siddiqui was defeated by Zardari for the presidency.
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.[101] Sharif had championed the cause of the judges since their dismissal.[16] 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.[16] Zardari feared that Chaudhry would undo all Mr Musharraf’s edicts—including an amnesty that he had received from corruption charges.[16]
Long March lead by Nawaz Sharif moving through Ferozpur Road, Lahore.
On 25 February 2009, the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab’s chief minister, from holding public office. Zardari then dismissed the province’s legislature and declared president’s rule in Punjab.[16] Lawyers and citizen groups in Pakistan and Pakistani lawyers, civil activists, and a coalition of political parties where planning to take to the streets in a protest march that started 13 March 2009.[102] Zardari attempted to place Sharif on house arrest on 15 March 2009.[16] But provincial police disappeared the same day from his house after an angry crowd gathered outside the house. The Punjab police’s decision to free Sharif from confinement was very likely in response to an army command.[16] Sharif, with a large contingent of SUVs, began leading a march to Islamabad but ended the march in Gujranwala.[16] In a televised morning speech on 16 March 2009, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had promised to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry after pressure from Pakistan’s army, American and British envoys, and internal protests. PPP also made secret Agreement to restore the PMLN Punjab Government. Sharif called off the "long march".[16] The PPP-led government continued to survive. Later it emerged that PMLN was not really interested in fre Judiciary but was justing it to put pressure on the PPP, and later hoped to end the free judiciary. A Senior PMLN leader had said "95 percent of the members of PML-N were against becoming part of the lawyers’ movement. But after the SC verdict, PML-N had no other choice but to support this movement. "[103]
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.[104]
In 2011 during an election campaign in Azad Kashmir, Sharif used government owned and funded helicopter, even though he does not hold public office.[105]
Malik Ishaq the Leader of the Terrorist group LEJ, which was responsible for Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing and 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team enjoyed Punjab government’s financial payment ever since the Sharif’s came to power in 2008 according to civil servant speaking on condition of anonymity[106]
In 2011 during a PML(N) campaign tour in Punjab lead by Sharif, the Punjab Government spent Rs4 million in arranging a rally for him. Public funds where used to prove tents, 9,000 chairs, renting a stadium and people attending the rally where given free fuel at the cost of the Punjab Government although Sharif holds no public office. The use of public funds for a party rally was considered a major scandal.[107]
Despite Sharif's wide approval in 1997 elections and, his public reforms, industrialization and the nuclear tests in 1998, Sharif's personality and policies remained a subject of ongoing controversies.[108] Sharif's criticism to former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto declined his public rating in Pakistan, though Sharif did regard Bhutto a "good prime minister" once as well.[108] During 1990s, Fascists parties of Pakistan such as MQM referred Sharif's as "establishment's Prime minister", while Benazir and her allies such as MQM maintained that Punjab and Kashmir Provinces remained center of gravity for Sharif's policies. Former President General Perver Musharraf and Benazir claimed that in 1999 that, in 1989, Sharif had connections with the pro-Islamic political parties and allegedly accepted the funds allotted by Osama Bin Laden for a secret operation, codename Operation Midnight Jackal, to topple the government of Benazir Bhutto.[109] Though, Sharif did regard that he had never met with Bin Laden, or talked about any political cooperation.[109] General Musharraf who was the Director-General for the Pakistan Army's Directorate-General for Military Operations (DGMO) in 1990 labeled Nawaz Sharif as "Closet Taliban", and had ties with extremist groups based in Punjab against India.[110] Former member of Air Intelligence Major Khalid Khawaja maintained that Nawaz Sharif did had meeting with Osama Bin Laden in three occasions in Saudi Arabia where plans where made to topple Benazir Bhutto's government. Secretary-General of Pakistan Muslim League, Ahsan Iqbal countered the claims dubbing it "claims as a pack of lies".[109]
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- ^ a b Story of Pakistan. "Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif [Born 1949 (Part-III)"]. Story of Pakistan Directorate. Story of Pakistan (Part III). http://www.storyofpakistan.com/person.asp?perid=P027&Pg=3. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
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- ^ "Musharraf calls Nawaz Sharif 'closet Taliban'". Indian Express News. Fri Jan 07 2011, 16:40 hrs. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/musharraf-calls-nawaz-sharif-closet-taliban/734685/. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
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Sharif, Nawaz |
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Pakistani politician |
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25 December 1949 |
| Place of birth |
Lahore, Pakistan |
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