Introduction: Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, more popularly known as Nawaz Sharif, is a Pakistani politician and businessman hailing from a business family. He was the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan and has served the office twice during the course of his life.

His first term started from November 1, 1990 to July 18, 1993 and the second from February 17, 1997 to October 12, 1999. His political party, Pakistan Muslim League-N (Nawaz group), remains one of the most distinguished parties operating in Pakistan and has a massive following in Punjab.

Biography: Son of a former industrialist; Mian Muhammad Sharif, Nawaz Sharif was born on December 25, 1949 in Lahore. His father migrated to Pakistan from Amritsar in 1947. Sharif, a graduate of Saint Anthony High school and Government College Lahore, holds a law degree from the University of Punjab.

After completing his education, he joined his family’s influential business; Ittefaq group of industries. As a youngster, he even played domestic cricket, representing Pakistan Railways for a short period. He is married to Kulsoom Nawaz; the grand niece of the famous Kashmiri wrestler, ‘Gama Pehlvaan’.

Political Career: He entered the political arena in 1970’s and became a member of Asghar Khan's Tehrik-e-Istiqlal. In 1981, he was appointed as Punjab Finance Minister. During his tenure in the finance ministry’s office, he also served as a minister of sports.

He worked for the rural development and approved projects pertaining to sports up-gradation and enhancement. The Ittefaq group reached the height of success during Gen. Zia ul Haq’s regime, who provided  Sharif with immense exposure. Gen. Zia ul Haq encouraged Nawaz Sharif to enter into mainstream politics and appointed him as his right hand man in the strategic province of Punjab.

As a Prime Minister: As a part of the ‘Islamic Democratic Alliance’, Nawaz Sharif became the prime minister of Pakistan on November 1, 1990, following Benazir Bhutto’s removal by the then president, Ghulam Ishaq Khan. During his official term in the office, he initiated many projects pertaining to the overall development of Pakistan.

Telecommunication and infrastructural developments were highly evident throughout his tenure as a prime minister. He privatised many state owned institutions and legalized the transactions of foreign exchange through private money changers.

Nawaz Sharif even focused on improving nation’s nuclear infrastructure, while continuing the peaceful nuclear program.

After facing increasing opposition and alleged corruption charges, he was dismissed in 1993, clearing the way for Bhutto to form a new government.

After Benazir Bhutto’s next dismissal by Farooq Leghari, Sharif became the prime minister for his subsequent term in 1997 with a two-third majority. His second term also featured some major developments including the nuclear tests, initiation of the peace process with the neighboring India and the rising Kashmir conflict leading to the Kargil war with the arch rivals.

Despite a strong mandate, Sharif’s government faced serious problems. Country’s economic situation was deteriorating when he found himself in conflict with the newly appointed army chief, General Parvez Musharraf over the withdrawal of Pakistani forces from Kargil.

Suspecting his removal, Sharif tried to sack Musharraf but the army moved quickly orchestrating a military coup as per the orders of their new commander. Sharif was thus removed from office and arrested on October 12, 1999. He was charged with hijacking, attempted murder and terrorism, facing a sentence to life imprisonment.

However, under an agreement facilated by Saudi government, he was pardoned and thus exiled for the next 10 years. He left for Jeddah along with his 40 family members in late 2000.

Return to Pakistan and post 2008 elections: After a failed attempt to return to Islamabad on September 10, 2007, Sharif successfully returned to Lahore on November 25, the same year. This time accompanied by his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, ending seven years in exile. This was a month after Benazir Bhutto’s arrival in Pakistan. He’s politically active ever since.

His party, PML-N won about one-fourth of the parliamentary seats in the 2008 general elections, forming a coalition government with Pakistan Peoples Party both at the Punjab and centre. After disagreements over the reinstatement of the deposed judges of the Supreme Court, Sharif withdrew his party from the governing coalition and is acting as the largest opposition party, putting immense political pressure on the government, since then.

His long march; a rally in support of the jury, in particular played a decisive role in the restoration of judges which were finally reinstated to their positions in March 2009. Without any doubt, Sharif continues to remain one of the most popular leaders of the country today.

In 2011, he underwent a heart surgery in England as he was found complaining of irregular heart beat for quite a while. He recuperated and returned to his homeland shortly.