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Nawaz sharif1st
Regime:
It was his 1st era. He ruled from 1990-1993 for 2 years 7 months and 4 days.
The IJI formed governments at the center and all the four provinces and Nawaz
sharif became the prime minister of the state. Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet initially
included eighteen ministers: nine from Punjab, two from the Islamabad Capital
Territory, six from Sindh, and one from Balochistan. His cabinet was later
expanded to include representation from the North-West Frontier Province. Of
paramount importance to the new government was implementation of Nawaz
Sharif’s program for strengthening the economy. Goals of the program included
self-reliance, deregulation and denationalization, taxation reform, foreign-
exchange and payment reform, administrative and law reform, and increases in
agricultural productivity and exports. The government’s economic strategy rested
on streamlining the institutional framework for industrialization and on starting a
new partnership with the private sector in order to promote common objectives.
Nawaz Sharif regarded unemployment as Pakistan’s major problem and believed it
could be solved only by rapid industrialization. However, it also decided to dismiss
all employees appointed by PPP government in grade 5 and above. He said his
government was considering special incentives for rural industrialization and agro-
based industries and was fully committed to a policy of deregulation.
Nawaz Sharif, during his first term, founded difficult working with PPP and the
MutahiddaQaumi Movement (MQM), a potent force in Karachi. The MQM and
PPP opposed Sharif widely due to his focused on beautifying Punjab and Kashmir
while neglecting Sindh. The clash between liberalism and conservatism soon
forces soonerupted in 1992 when political tension began to arise in which both
party renegading ideological war against each other. Nawaz Sharif’s government
members passed the resolution in the Parliament, to launch the paramilitary
operation to end the cold war between PML-N and MQM. Paramilitary operation
in Sindh Province was Launched in 1992, violence erupted in Karachi and brought
an economic halt in the country.
In 1993, Sharif survived serious constitutional crises when it was reported that
Sharif developed serious issues over the authority with another national
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conservative President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Before 1993 Parliamentary election,
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan on 18 April 1993, with the supportof the Pakistan
Army, used his reserve powers (58-2b) to dissolve the National Assembly, the
lower house. Khan appointed Mir Blake Scher as the interim Prime Minister.
Nawaz Sharif, moved to Supreme Court of Pakistan. In May 26, 1993, Sharif
returned to power after the Supreme Court ruled that the Presidential Order as
unconstitutional and reconstituted the National Assembly on its immediate effect.
The power struggle and war between Nawaz sharif and president khan started.
Finally, on July 1993, Sharif resigned under pressure from the Pakistan Armed
Forces but negotiated a settlement that resulted in the removal of President Ghulam
Ishaq Khan as well. In July 1993, Chief of Army Staff General Abdul
VahiedKakar and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General
ShamimAllam forced President Ishaq Khan to resign from the presidency and
subsequently ended the political standoff. Under the close scrutiny of the Pakistan
Armed Forces, the new interim and transitional government was formed and new
parliamentary election were held after three months.
Nawaz Sharif2nd
regime:
His this ruling time was from 1997-1999. For 2 years 7 months and 25 days.
Elections were held on February 3, 1997. Pakistan Muslim League won with an
overwhelming majority with absolutely light and slight opposition. The Muslim
League was able to obtain a two-third majority in the National Assembly and Mian
Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as Prime Minister. He obtained a vote of confidence
from the National Assembly on February 18, 1997.
A number of very important Constitutional Amendments were introduced during
Nawaz Sharif’s second term. These include the termination of the Eighth
Amendment, passing of the Thirteenth Amendment and the Ehtesab Act, 1997.
Nawaz Sharif faced a serious confrontation with the Judiciary and the Executive,
which eventually led to the resignation of President Leghari on December 2, 1997.
. On August 28, 1998, Nawaz regime introduced the Fifteenth Amendment. The
Bill generated heated debate throughout the country but was passed on October9,
1998, by the members of the National Assembly. The Bill, however, was not put
before the Senate within 90 days as was required by the Constitution. The Bill was
held back, as Nawaz Sharif did not had the required two-third majority in the
Senate.
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During the Benazir Bhutto’s period, the country suffered the terrorist attack on
Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad that led the rift between relationship between
Pakistan and Egypt. He took initiatives against terrorism when on 17 August 1997,
he passed the controversial Anti-Terrorist Act which established Anti-Terrorism
Courts.
It was during this term that Pakistan carried out its nuclear tests on May 28, 1998,
in responseto the Indian detonation of its five nuclear devices. The Nawaz
Government had found it imperative for Pakistan to carry out these nuclear tests, in
order to provide an effective defense, and to deter Indian adventurism. The Nawaz
Government proclaimed an emergency on May 28, 1998; the day these nuclear
tests were conducted. All fundamental rights were suspended and all the foreign
currency accounts in Pakistani banks were frozen. The Fifteenth Amendment was
presumed to be an effort by Nawaz Sharif to acquire additional powers for himself.
Soona serious conflict and confrontation emerged on the scene between him and
the Military Generals. This confrontation led to the resignation of General
JehangirKaramat on October7, 1998. General Karamat was replaced by General
Pervez Musharraf. Sharif then also appointed General Musharraf as Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee despite Musharraf’s lack of seniority to
Admiral Bokhari.
The Kargil Operation in its aftermath again led to tense relations between Nawaz
Sharif and the armed forces. This tension culminated into the removal of Nawaz
Government by General Pervez Musharraf on October12, 1999, thus bringing to
an end the second term of Nawaz Sharif’s Government.
Nawaz Sharif3rd
regime:
It was his 3rd reign which continued till 4 years 1 month and 23 days. Since
2013-2017.
Nawaz Sharif for the record third time, when he could not complete his term, but
also brought an end to his 32 years of parliamentary politics. The post-
disqualification is a new political journey for Sharif, in which he could learn from
his mistakes and still make his party strong.
Sharif's ouster from politics came as a result of 5-0 SC judgment. He said he was
innocent and fell victim. He can only prove others wrong if he gets his party
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elected to power in 2018, an election through people's joint investigation team
(JIT). There is no other way left for him as legal experts are not very confident
about the outcome of any review petition.
It was his longest term, but still one year short of the constitutional term. And now,
as a makeshift arrangement, it would be completed by two PMs,
ShahidKhaqanAbbasi for 45 days, and then by his brother Shahbaz Sharif, who
will have to win by-election from NA-120 first to become eligible for the PM’s
slot. This is PML-N plan, as of today.
Nawaz Sharif's four-year term revolved around few controversies, some generated
as a result of his own decisions, while others struck as a consequenceof his
decisions. (1) Trial of former army chief, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, (2)
Civil-military relationship, (3) Karachi operation, which, in the later stage, led to
the break-up of his relationship with both the MQM and the PPP, (4) Imran Khan
dharna and his aggressive politics, (5) relationship with India.
Metro Bus and Motorway remains hallmark of his term as well, like during his
previous two terms, beside number of energy projects, as he had promised zero
load-shedding during his tenure.
Sharif started his third power journey well. He gave a reception to the outgoing
president, Asif Ali Zardari, and despite PPP'sreservation over elections, which
Zardari had termed ‘ROs polls’, and disappointed with the PML-N politics over
Memogate, the party leaders attended the reception and congratulated Sharif and
the PML-N.
He took a historic decision in Balochistan, when despite PML-N’s majority, he
allowed National Party's Dr Abdul Malik to form the government in an
arrangement with the PML-N. Two-and-a-half years were given to the NP, and the
second half tenure has been given to PML’s SanaullahZehri. No wonder if most of
the nationalist parties stood with Sharif when he was ousted by the SC. The move
was generally appreciated in the country, considering sensitivity of Balochistan.
Trouble started when Nawaz Sharif, against the advice of few party leaders,
particularly former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, decided to put
Musharraf on trial for high treason for his Nov-3 action, the Emergency Plus.
Perhaps, it was a decision in haste without sensing the mood within the military
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establishment. The move came at a time when General Raheel Sharif had just
taken over as the army chief from General AshfaqParvezKayani.
Reaction from the establishment came in different ways, as everyone witnessed
during the brief trial and in the end, Sharif's government withdrew its original
stance and the man was allowed to leave the country in a strange manner, leaving
many questions unanswered.
In the same year (2013), the army had launched a major operation in North
Waziristan, which for years had becomea safe haven for local and global terror
networks. Forthe first time, the establishment narrative about Taliban changed and
the army went all-out through air and ground strikes.
The army asked the new prime minister to take the political ownership of the
operation and pacify the voices of concern, coming from religious parties as well
as from Imran Khan.
It was a major challenge for Sharif, who initially feared serious backlash from
militants including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Thus, he took a controversial
decision when he surprised many by initiating a dialogue through a committee. The
TTP also constituted a committee, but talks break up after Taliban refused to lay
down arms and put some hard conditions.
In the process,Sharif also went to meet Imran Khan at Banigala. Imran Khan was a
powerful voice against the operation, but after the meeting he softened his stance.
Later on, it was the massacre of children at the Army Public School(APS) which
completely changed Imran's stance and he supported the operation.
In the same year, he tookanother major decision about the Karachi operation, and
took both the PPP and united MQM into confidence. Special powers were
delegated to the rangers and an apex committee was asked to monitor the
operation.
Unlike the past three operations in Karachi, it was decided that it would be across-
the-board. Today, Sharif could claim the move as his success story. But, in the
process, the undeclared policy of friendly opposition from the PPP was lost with
the arrest of DrAsim Hussain. The MQM was the worst-hit, as not only its strong
alleged militant group was dismantled, but the party was also divided into three
factions.
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Former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, should blame himself for his failure in
defusing the political tension with his archrival Imran Khan. Sharif twice missed
the bus for resolving the crisis, created as a result of Imran's aggressive posture.
First, when Imran demanded probe into alleged rigging in four constituencies. It
was not such an issue to address from someone like Sharif with a comfortable
majority in the assembly. He could have engaged him and without any probe could
have gone for re-election. It would have not only defused the situation but also
eliminated the chances of 126-day dharna or the incident like Model Town.
Luck again favoured Sharif when the PPP and other opposition parties stood with
the Parliament and in a way rescued the PM from a no-win situation. Later, the
judicial commission findings against a large-scale rigging also gave the PML-N an
upper hand. He could have used the move to bring the mainstream parties closer
and make major electoral reforms for making the parliament strong.
Therefore, on domestic front, Sharif created problems for himself and despite
smooth sailing, created gulf with the opposition. The 2014 APS massacre also
provided him with an opportunity to take all the parties along.
On foreign policy front, he perhaps went too fast in developing relationship with
India without realising the basic point i.e. good relations with Pakistan negate the
very basic politics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His so-called gesture
towards him and Pakistan, a surprise visit to Lahore etc., had not been for
improving relationship, but just to show the world.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was the biggest achievement of
Nawaz Sharif's government. But, it is also true that the initial work for CPEC was
started during the PPP government. The PML-N government could rightly claim of
taking the matter on a fast pace despite some controversy over deciding the route.
Panama leaks in April 2016 not only gave new political life to Imran Khan, who
was down after big political loss in election rigging case, but also created serious
problems for Sharif as his children's name also appeared for having offshore
companies, along with over 400 others.
Like the way he mishandled 2014 dharna, Sharif once again misjudged the issue.
He had the great opportunity in defusing the tension by engaging the parliament
and other parties. He could have avoided the legal battle and could have avoided
the situation by simply accepting the moral responsibility.
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Politics is the game of opportunities, possibilities and timing. If you miss
opportunities, there is left nothing for any politician but to regret. Wish our
politicians understand some of the basics of politics.