Posted by New Delhi: With the counting of votes underway in Pakistan general elections on Friday, two key contenders — Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N and jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI, whose candidates are contesting as independents — claimed victory in the polls amid allegations of rigging.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party issued a statement urging Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the PML-N party and considered the frontrunner supported by the influential Army, to concede defeat. However, the PML-N rejected the demand and asserted its victory in Thursday’s elections.
Vote counting is ongoing in Pakistan following Thursday’s general election, which was overshadowed by accusations of rigging, sporadic violence, and a nationwide mobile phone shutdown.
Once exiled from Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif is eyeing a return to the country’s leadership in the current elections. Sharif has served three non consecutive terms as the prime minister of Pakistan in the past before being ousted from power over corruption charges.
Here’s all you need to know about Nawaz Sharif: Political Career, age, family tree & more:
Nawaz Sharif, aged 74, was born on December 25, 1949, in Lahore. He is a Pakistani businessman and politician who held the position of prime minister during three terms: 1990–93, 1997–98, and 2013–17.
Education and political career
Sharif began his political career after obtaining an LL.B. from the University of the Punjab in Lahore. He joined his family’s influential House of Ittefaq (Ittefaq Group), a prominent industrial conglomerate with investments in sugar, steel, and textiles. Transitioning into politics, he served on a provincial council in Punjab.
In 1981, he assumed the role of finance minister for the province, and later, following the 1985 elections, he ascended to the position of chief minister. Leading the Pakistan Muslim League (which became the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz [PML-N] in 1993), the principal party within the Islamic Democratic Alliance coalition, Sharif was first elected as Pakistan’s prime minister in October 1990.
His election followed the dismissal of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who utilized a constitutional provision granting him the authority to dismiss the elected government if he perceived it to be corrupt or ineffective.
Corruption allegations and exile
In 2017, Nawaz Sharif’s third term as prime minister ended amid a corruption probe. Allegations intensified in 2015 with the Panama Papers leak, linking his children to offshore companies. Disqualified by the Supreme Court in July 2017, Sharif stepped down, replaced by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. He and his family relocated to London while Shehbaz Sharif assumed PML-N leadership.
Convicted in absentia in July 2018 for possessing assets beyond declared income, Sharif received a 10-year sentence, while his daughter Maryam received 7 years. They returned to Lahore to serve sentences, alleging rigged elections won by Imran Khan’s PTI. Despite concerns, PML-N conceded to PTI.
After his wife’s death, Nawaz and Maryam were temporarily released for her funeral. Their sentences were suspended, and they were granted bail. In December, Nawaz received a seven-year prison term for unproven income sources. Released on medical bail in October 2019, he left Pakistan, but remained active in politics, helping form the Pakistan Democratic Movement and contributing to the ousting of Khan in April 2022.
Return to Pakistan
In 2023, as the 2024 general elections approached, Nawaz Sharif’s prospects of returning to power seemed promising. Imran Khan, disqualified from public office in October 2022 due to corruption allegations, faced brief detention in May 2023 after accusing a military official of plotting against him. His supporters’ outcry led to a crackdown on his PTI party.
In June, Sharif was acquitted of a significant charge, followed by the National Assembly passing a law facilitating his eligibility for office. Returning to Pakistan in October 2023, he appealed his prior convictions, which were subsequently overturned by a federal court in December. Soon after, Sharif submitted candidacy papers for a National Assembly seat, signalling his intent to participate in the upcoming elections.
Nawaz Sharif’s family tree and residences
Nawaz Sharif was born into the affluent Sharif family in Lahore. He is the son of Muhammad Sharif, the founder of Ittefaq and Sharif groups. Nawaz has an elder brother, Shehbaz Sharif, who also served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2022 to 2023.
He married Kulsoom Nawaz, also of Kashmiri descent, in April 1971. His brother Shehbaz Sharif served as Chief Minister of Punjab province four times and held the position of prime minister of Pakistan from 2022 to 2023.
His nephew Hamza Shahbaz Sharif currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz holds the position of Central Vice President of PML-N and is married to politician Muhammad Safdar Awan. His other daughter, Asma Nawaz, is married to Ali Dar, the son of Ishaq Dar, former finance minister of Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif’s wealth and net worth
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Nawaz ranks among the wealthiest individuals in the country, with an estimated net worth of at least Rs. 1.75 billion (equivalent to Rs 8.9 billion or $31 million in 2021). His wealth is primarily derived from his steel business.
The Sharif family’s primary residence, Raiwind Palace, is situated in Jati Umra, Raiwind, on the outskirts of Lahore. They also have a residence in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, known as the Sharif Villa, where they lived during their exile. Nawaz’s elder son, Hussain Nawaz, is a businessman based in Saudi Arabia, while his younger son, Hassan Nawaz, resides in London.
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