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By APD Commentator Chu Yin
The Pakistani Supreme Court on July 28 disqualified Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif over his alleged involvement in corruption. Shortly after, the PM’s office announced his resignation.
This is the third time Sharif has faced similar situations. Compared to his second dismissal in 1999, which forced him into exile, it is clearly not the worst-case scenario for the former prime minister.
Nawaz Sharif was born into the Sharif family in 1949, which started out with steelmaking and expanded into one of Pakistan’s most prominent families.
With his solid family background and profound political understanding, Sharif was elected as the chief minister of Punjab at an early age of 36, and gradually the Sharif family-led party, the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N),
gained political influence in Pakistan.
However, it has not always been a rosy picture for Sharif as conflicts with his archrival, the Bhutto family-led Pakistan People's Party (PPP), have never stopped for decades.
Since swearing in as the PM for the first time in 1990, Sharif has undergone dramatic ups and downs in his political career.
His sharp contradiction with then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan finally led to both men’s resignation in July 1993. Three months later, Benazir Bhutto resumed office as the prime minsiter.
Sharif reclaimed his position in 1997 when Bhutto and the PPP lost advantages. However, he could not get along with quite a few senior army generals, and he promoted Pervez Musharraf, who initiated a coup d'état in 1999 and toppled the Sharif government. Sharif was driven into exile in Saudi Arabia.
In 2007, the top court allowed Sharif to return to Pakistan for election.
To contend with Musharraf, he joined hands with Bhutto, who was assassinated in the end of the year.
In 2008, Musharraf was ousted for accusations of being behind the assassination.
After elections in 2013, the PML-N became the dominant party in parliament and Sharif was reappointed as the prime minister.
Up to today’s resignation, the former prime minister just finished his longest administration of four years.
Government leadership and prominent influence from a wealthy business family generally breed economic issues in many countries.
Sharif’s recent resignation may well result from his opponents’ political maneuver in the name of anti-corruption.
However, Sharif currently remains to be the leader of the ruling PML-N, which has an absolute predominance in Pakistan’s parliament, occupying 209 out of 342 seats.
Sharif also reserves the power to nominate a new PM and has passed the baton to his younger brother, Punjab Province Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
In light of the current circumstances, political turmoil is unlikely to occur in Pakistan.
As to the accusation of corruption, the ousted prime minister can restore his reputation by retaining his political influence and avoiding judicial interference against him legally.
When the time comes, it will be much easier for Sharif to reclaim the position compared to his two previous ousters.
As to impacts on China-Pakistan relations, there is absolutely no need to worry. Based on high-level mutual trust, extensive profound cooperation and geopolitical reliance, China-Pakistan relations will remain stable with whichever party in power in the future.
Chu Yin is an associate professor in public relations with the University of International Relations, a researcher at the National Research Institute of Security and Government Law, and also a researcher at China Overseas Interest Protection Research Institute.
APD Review columnists are senior media workers and international issues experts with rich experience in international reporting.They comment on current international affairs from unique perspectives in accordance with the Asia-Pacific Daily’s notion of originality, exclusiveness, profundity, openness and interconnection.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
