A seasoned leader, reputed to be both flexible and tenacious, Shehbaz Sharif became the new Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday, thus definitely stepping out of the shadow of his brother, Nawaz.
Shehbaz Sharif was elected by the National Assembly and takes over from Imran Khan, overthrown on Sunday by a motion of censure.
He is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who served three times as prime minister before being deposed in 2017 for alleged corruption and imprisoned, then released two years later on medical grounds, and has since lived in exile in the UK.
At 70, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) is himself an experienced politician. He led for years the government of the province of Punjab, the most populous of the Islamic republic of 220 million inhabitants, and the electoral stronghold of his party.
Tenacious, renowned for his passionate outbursts, he was known to quote revolutionary poems in his speeches and public meetings, and was considered a workaholic by his colleagues.
He had inherited the family steel business with his brother as a young businessman, before being first elected to a provincial post in Punjab in 1988.
In these roles, he spearheaded a series of large-scale infrastructure projects, including Pakistan’s first metro-bus service.
His penchant for surprise visits to government offices, dressed in a suit and safari hat, allowed him to keep officials constantly on their toes.
Yet his critics say he failed to tackle the province’s core issues — including civil service, health and agricultural reform — and instead focused on projects for electoral purposes, such as the distribution of laptop computers to students or the offer of free transport to the unemployed.
Released on bail
He has also been linked to bribery and corruption, charges his supporters say are the result of a political vendetta by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In December 2019, the Anti-Corruption Authority (NAB) seized nearly 20 properties belonging to Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza, accusing them of money laundering.
He was arrested and jailed in September 2020, but released on bail almost six months later, pending a trial that has still not taken place.
Unlike his older brother, whose relations were strained with his opponents and with the military, he is considered a more flexible negotiator, able to compromise even with his enemies.
The military is Pakistan’s most powerful institution and has ruled the country for nearly half of its history, pulling the strings even when it was not itself in power.
“I have always remained a strong supporter of effective coordination between Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he said, referring to the administrative capital and nearby military headquarters.
He remains popular, despite the front pages of the tabloid press about his multiple marriages or his numerous real estate properties, which include luxury apartments in London and Dubai.
His last marriage to writer Tehmina Durrani has largely ended the rumors.
Ms. Durrani, a feminist whose book ‘My Lord and Master’ won her international acclaim, is also credited with improving Shehbaz Sharif’s respect for women.
Difficult economic and security challenges await, as economic growth stagnates and violence by the Pakistani Taliban and separatist groups in southwestern Balochistan is on the rise.