New Delhi: Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the Opposition Party in Pakistan’s National Assembly of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) is expected to hold the Prime Minister’s chair in the country if the no-trust vote against the current government succeeds. Shehbaz has been identified as the leading Opposition leader to outdo Imran Khan’s government.
Besides, he is the only face that is coming up to hold the Prime Minister’s place after Imran Khan.
Who is Shehbaz Sharif?
Shehbaz Sharf is the brother of three-time Prime Minister Nazar Sharif. The 70-year-old leader is also the part of wealthy Sharif dynasty.
According to a report by Reuters, he is best known for his direct “can-do” administration, which he showcased during his tenure as a chief minister of Punjab province.
During his time as a chief minister of Punjab which is considered to be Pakistan’s most populous province, Shahbaz planned and implied a number of infrastructure major projects, including Pakistan’s first modern mass transport in Lahore.
Besides, Shehbaz is known to have maintained good and friendly relations with the Pakistan military, unlike his brother. Moreover, his political dynasty is more inclined toward India than Imran Khan has been during his Prime Ministership.
His Life
Born in Lahore, Shahbaz Sharif hails from a wealthy industrial family. He was educated locally. Following his education, he entered the family business and jointly owns a Pakistani steel company.
After joining politics, for the first time, he became the chief minister of Punjab in 1997. However, after a military coup, he was imprisoned and sent into exile in Saudi Arabia in 2000.
In 2007, he returned from his exile and resumed his political career in Punjab.
After becoming the chief of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) party, he entered the national political scene. In 2017, his brother Nawaz Sharif was found guilty of concealing assets related to the Panama Papers revelations.
Although, both the brothers have faced numerous corruption cases, Shahbaz was never held for charges.