Shehbaz Sharif set to return as Pak PM: His career so far, why his brother Nawaz is not getting top job

What has Shehbaz’s political career been like so far? Why has he been named the PM candidate instead of his more experienced brother, Nawaz? We explain.

Who is Shehbaz Sharif?

Shehbaz, 72, was the Prime Minister of Pakistan till August 2023, when the National Assembly was dissolved for fresh elections. He had come to power just over a year ago, in April 2022, after the ouster of Imran Khan. Before that, he served as the Chief Minister of Punjab thrice — from 1997-1999, after which he and his family were exiled to Saudi Arabia by Pervez Musharraf; from 2008-2013; and from 2013-2018.

Shehbaz is the second son of industrialist Muhammad Sharif, and is also involved in the family-owned Ittefaq Group of steel industries. The family originally hails from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir.

As Chief Minister of Punjab, Shehbaz was known for his efficient working style and for his rapid infrastructure development, including providing Lahore with a modern mode of mass transport, the Lahore Metrobus. He also set in motion several social development schemes.

As Prime Minister, Shehbaz was less popular — though he managed to keep a disparate coalition together, his government faced severe criticism for the handling of the economy amid tough IMF scrutiny and the high inflation. That he had come to power as the perceived front for the military regime, ousting the popular Imran Khan, did not help his image.

Earlier, Shehbaz has faced allegations of corruption and of police brutality during his stints as Chief Minister.

He has been married thrice: to Nusrat Shehbaz (in 1973), to Aaliya Honey (in 1993, later separated), and to author Tehmina Durrani in 2003. A bridge built in Lahore during his tenure is called the ‘honey bridge’, as it is believed it was constructed partially to cut his commute time to Aaliya’s house.

Why is Shehbaz getting the PM chair and not Nawaz?

Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and political heir, has said this was because her father did not want to head a coalition government. Pakistan’s elections threw up a surprise verdict this time, with independents backed by Imran Khan’s PTI winning a high number of seats.

“Nawaz Sharif wanted to become PM for a fourth time but after the split mandate, he withdrew from the top slot…Those who know Nawaz are also aware that he is not interested in leading a coalition government,” Maryam said on Wednesday.

“There is no truth in the inference that Nawaz has decided to quit politics. He will supervise the federal and Punjab governments and play his due role…Shehbaz and I are his soldiers, bound to follow his command,” she added.

Another reason being cited for Shehbaz’s elevation is that the powerful military shares a better equation with him than his older brother. While Nawaz has clashed several times with the military, which plays an oversized role in Pakistan’s civilian administration, Shehbaz is known to get along better with the generals.