Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who has served as the prime minister of Pakistan since 2024, having previously been in the role between 2022 and 2023. He has also served as the president of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and chief minister of Punjab three times, spanning over 12 years, making him the longest-serving person in the role.
Sharif was elected to the Punjab Assembly in 1988 and later to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1990, when his brother became head of the conservative Islami Jamhuri Ittihad (IJI). He was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly in 1993 and appointed leader of the opposition. He was elected as chief minister of Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, for the first time on 20 February 1997. After the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état, Sharif struck a deal with the military establishment, which was brokered by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and went into exile for a period of ten years in Saudi Arabia, returning to Pakistan in 2007. Sharif was appointed chief minister for a second term after the PML(N)'s victory in Punjab in the 2008 Pakistani general election. He was elected as chief minister of Punjab for the third time after the 2013 Punjab provincial election. Sharif was nominated as the president of the PML(N) after his brother, Nawaz Sharif, was disqualified from holding office in the wake of the Panama Papers case.
He was nominated as the leader of the opposition after the 2018 general election, and was selected as prime minister in 2022 after the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was passed in the National Assembly. After the PML(N) won a minority in the controversial 2024 general election, in which they were backed by the military, Sharif became prime minister with a coalition government.
Sharif's political career has been marked by several controversies. In 1993, the widow of Chief of Army Staff General Asif Nawaz Janjua alleged that Sharif, along with several others, had been involved in a plan to eliminate her husband. He was also implicated in investigations and court proceedings connected to the 2014 Model Town incident, in which police clashed with Pakistan Awami Tehreek supporters and left dozens dead and injured. A joint investigation team, composed of representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), gave a dissenting note which stated that as the Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif and others bore direct or indirect responsibility for the killings, while a Lahore sessions court ordered police to register murder charges against him, his brother Nawaz, and others.
Additionally, Sharif and members of his family have faced money-laundering allegations investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). In 2022, an FIA prosecutor told a court that he had been instructed not to continue appearing in a money-laundering case against Sharif and his son Hamza, and told the court that the "quarters concerned" were not interested in prosecuting the accused, as the two were about to become Prime Minister and Chief Minister. This came days after the death of FIA investigator Dr. Rizwan, who had led the probe and had been placed on the no-fly list. This was followed by the death of another suspect in the case, Maqsood Chaprasi, who was a peon for the Sharif family, before proceedings concluded.
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Early life and education
Sharif was born on 23 September 1951 in Lahore, West Punjab. His family is Punjabi with Kashmiri ancestry. Sharif's father, Mian Muhammad Sharif, was an upper-middle-class businessman and industrialist whose family had emigrated from Anantnag in Kashmir for business, and eventually settled in the village of Jati Umra in Amritsar district, Punjab, at the beginning of the twentieth century. His mother's family came from Pulwama. Following the partition of India and Pakistan's independence in 1947, his parents migrated from Amritsar to Lahore. He has two brothers: Abbas Sharif and Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz is a three-time elected prime minister of Pakistan, serving the longest non-consecutive tenure in the role. Nawaz's wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, was the first lady of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz is the current chief minister of Punjab.
Sharif attended St. Anthony High School, Lahore, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Government College University, Lahore. After his graduation, he joined his family-owned Ittefaq Group. He was elected president of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 1985.
Early political career
Sharif began his political career after getting elected to the Punjab Assembly from Constituency PP-122 (Lahore-VII) as a candidate of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in the 1988 general election. He had 22,372 votes and defeated a candidate of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). However, his term prematurely ended in 1990 when the assemblies were dissolved.
He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab from Constituency PP-124 (Lahore-IX) as an IJI candidate in the 1990 general election. He received 26,408 votes and defeated a candidate of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDA). In the same election, he was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Constituency NA-96 (Lahore-V) as a candidate of IJI. He secured 54,506 votes and defeated Jehangir Bader. He vacated the Punjab Assembly seat to retain his National Assembly seat. His term prematurely ended in 1993 when the assemblies were dissolved.
In April 1993, the widow of Chief of Army Staff General Asif Nawaz Janjua, alleged that Brigadier Imtiaz, head of the Intelligence Bureau, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, and Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan had planned to eliminate her husband.
He was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from Constituency PP-125 (Lahore-X) as a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)), a new party founded by his brother, Nawaz, in the 1993 general election. He received 28,068 votes and defeated a candidate of PPP. In the same election, he was re-elected to the National Assembly from Constituency NA-96 (Lahore-V) as a candidate of the PML(N). He secured 55,867 votes and defeated Yousuf Salahuddin. He vacated the National Assembly seat and retained his Provincial Punjab Assembly seat. Shortly after the election, he was elected Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. During his tenure as Leader of the Opposition, he travelled to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. In his absence, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was made Acting Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. His term as a member of the Punjab Assembly and Leader of the Opposition prematurely ended in November 1996 when the assemblies were dissolved.
Chief Minister of Punjab (1997–1999) and exile
Sharif was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from Constituency PP-125 (Lahore-X) as a candidate of the PML(N) in the 1997 Punjab provincial election. He received 25,013 votes and defeated a candidate of PPP. In the same election, he was re-elected to the National Assembly from Constituency NA-96 (Lahore-V) as a candidate of PML(N). He secured 47,614 votes and defeated Hanif Ramay. He was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time and was sworn in as 13th Chief Minister of Punjab on 20 February 1997.
Sharif focused on healthcare, education, agriculture and the promotion of industry in Punjab. He undertook several development projects in Lahore and launched a crackdown on criminals across the province to maintain law and order. Sharif introduced a series of educational reforms such as reformed exams in a variety of subjects, as well as self-finance schemes for students.
He held his office until 12 October 1999, when he was removed from the post of Chief Minister in the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état.
In 1999, a complainant, Saeeduddin, lodged a first information report and accused Sharif of allowing the Punjab Police, as chief minister, to kill his son along with other men in a fake encounter. In the encounter, his two sons and three other people were killed by the police. Following the coup Sharif was imprisoned. In December 2000, he, along with his immediate family members, struck a deal with the military establishment, which was brokered by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and went into exile for a period of ten years in Saudi Arabia.
While in exile in Saudi Arabia, Sharif was elected as the PML(N) President in August 2002 and moved to the United Kingdom in 2003 for medical treatment.
In 2003, an anti-terrorism court summoned Sharif and five others accused in alleged extrajudicial killings in 1998. He was in the exile at that time and failed to show-up to the court. Later, the court issued an arrest warrant for Sharif. In 2004, Sharif attempted to return to Pakistan to appear before the court, but was forcibly deported back to Saudi Arabia.
Chief Minister of Punjab (2008–2018)
Sharif was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly unopposed from Constituency PP-48 (Bhakkar-II) as a PML(N) candidate in the by-election held in June 2008. Subsequently, he was elected unopposed as the Chief Minister of Punjab, receiving 265 votes unopposed after securing 265 votes. Later, in June 2008, while holding the Assembly seat from Constituency PP-48 (Bhakkar-II), Sharif contested for a seat in the Punjab Assembly from Constituency PP-10 (Rawalpindi-X). He was elected unopposed but resigned from this seat due to a dispute regarding his eligibility to serve as chief minister.
His second term as chief minister was interrupted on 25 February 2009 when the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared him ineligible to hold public office, resulting in the vacancy of his seat in the Punjab Assembly and his removal from the office of chief minister. On 1 April 2009, a five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court overturned the earlier decision, reinstating Sharif as chief minister.
In the 2013 general election, Sharif was re-elected to the Punjab Assembly from three Constituencies PP-159 (Lahore-XXIII), PP-161 (Lahore-XXV) and PP-247 (Rajanpur-I), as a PML(N) candidate. In the same election, he was re-elected to the National Assembly from Constituency NA-129 (Lahore-XII). Sharif chose to retain his Provincial Assembly seat PP-159 (Lahore-XXIII) and was re-elected as chief minister of Punjab for the third time, receiving 300 votes in the 371-member Provincial Assembly.
In August 2014, a dissenting note by members of a joint investigation team, composed of representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other branches, stated that Chief Minister Shehbaz, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Dr Tauqeer Shah, and other senior police officers were directly or indirectly responsible for the killing of over a dozen Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers in the Model Town Massacre. Similarly, a sessions court in Lahore ordered ordered police to register murder charges against 21 individuals, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif for the massacre.
Intra-party politics
In 2016, Sharif was elected unopposed as the president of the PML(N)'s Punjab chapter in intra-party elections.
On 29 July 2017, following the disqualification of outgoing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the Panama Papers case decision, Sharif was named leader of the PML(N) and their candidate for the office of prime minister. However, he was not a member of the National Assembly, so Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was asked to serve as the interim prime minister of Pakistan, allowing Sharif enough time to enter the legislature through a by-election. Later, Sharif decided to complete his tenure as chief minister until the next general election.
In December 2017, Sharif was named as the candidate of PML(N) for the office of prime minister in the 2018 general election.
In February 2018, Sharif was appointed the interim president of the PML(N). In March 2018, he was elected unopposed as the president of PML(N). It was reported that the establishment had previously offered Sharif the position of prime minister of Pakistan on several occasions, which he did not accept.
Leader of the Opposition (2018–2022)
Sharif was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML(N) from Constituency NA-132 (Lahore-X) in the 2018 Pakistani general election. In the same election, he was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab as a candidate of PML(N) from Constituency PP-164 (Lahore-XXI) and PP-165 (Lahore-XXII). Following his successful election, he abandoned his Punjab seats in favour of the National assembly seat.
On 16 August 2018, he was nominated by PML(N) for the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan. The following day, he secured 96 votes, losing to Imran Khan. Later, he was nominated for the office of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly by 111 members of the National Assembly. On 20 August 2018, he was notified as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. Concurrently, he served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 22 December 2018 until 28 November 2019, when he resigned and was succeeded by Rana Tanveer Hussain.
In September 2020, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Sharif on charges of laundering Rs. 7,328 million (US$41 million) through a purported scheme involving close associates and family members. The NAB had previously frozen 23 properties owned by Sharif, his son, and other relatives, alleging these assets were acquired through unknown sources of income and that foreign funds were funnelled via fake transactions through a company owned by Sharif's son-in-law, Haroon Yousaf.
Following his arrest, Sharif was held in custody during the investigation. In November 2020, he was temporarily released on parole to attend his mother's funeral prayers. On 14 April 2021, he was granted bail by the Lahore High Court in the money laundering case.
Prime Minister (2022–2023)
On 10 April 2022, Sharif was nominated as a candidate for prime minister by opposition parties following the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan after the 2022 Pakistani constitutional crisis. He was elected prime minister on 11 April 2022. He took the oath of office on the same day, administered by the Chairman of the Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, acting for President Arif Alvi, who was on medical leave after complaining of "discomfort".
On May 13, 2022, it was reported that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would not pursue the money laundering cases against Shehbaz and his son, Chief Minister of Punjab Hamza Shehbaz. These reports were based on a submission from FIA Special Prosecutor Sikandar Zulqarnain Saleem, who stated that the FIA's Director General, through the investigating officer, conveyed to Saleem that he should not continue to appear in this case because the defendants were about to be elected to the positions of Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab. Additionally, Saleem wrote that "the quarters concerned are not interested in prosecuting the accused persons." Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan of the Special Court (Central-I) made this application part of the case file.
This came days after the death of Dr. Rizwan, the FIA director who had led the money-laundering investigation against Shehbaz and his son, and had been placed on the no-fly list by Shahbaz's government. The following month, Maqsood Chaprasi, another suspect in the case who was a peon for the Sharif family, also died from cardiac arrest in Dubai before the proceedings concluded. Earlier investigations in 2020 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had also focused on Nisar Ahmed, who NAB described as a front man for the Sharif family, and Mushtaq Cheeni, had also revealed being involved in money laundering for the Sharif family.
On 12 October 2022, Prime Minister Sharif and his son were acquitted on all charges of corruption and money laundering by the Special Court Central in Lahore. After the verdict, Sharif's lawyer Amjad Pervez described the case as "totally baseless and politically motivated." Reacting to the verdict, former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the acquittal covered up their theft worth billions and was a "slap in the nation's face by the judicial system".
Domestic policy
Sharif's main priority upon his ascension as prime minister in 2022 was to resolve the severe economic crisis that began that year, as rising fuel prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, excessive borrowing, poor macroeconomic decision-making, a balance of payments crisis, among other factors had accumulated into a severe crisis that strained the nation's economy. Sharif also vowed to investigate Imran Khan's allegations of American intervention to instigate the latter's removal from power, vowing to step down if an "iota of evidence" was found against him. Sharif promised to enact electoral reforms to ensure that free and fair elections occurred.
Soon after Sharif's swearing-in ceremony, the government announced a relief package that included various measures such as raising the minimum wage from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 25,000, subsidising wheat flour, a 10% raise in pensions, and a government employee salary reduction to less than Rs. 100,000 rupees. He also revived the Benazir Income Support Programme for poverty reduction, expanding it to educational aid.
In order to resolve skyrocketing fuel prices, Sharif sought to amplify energy production from power projects. He expressed his intentions to resolve the lack of profit from Pakistan's coal of reserves, suggesting that the Thar Engro Coal Power Project could be connected to other coal-powered plants and amplify production to up to 4,000 megawatts. Sharif further suggested that the Thar Project could revive the national economy and save the government up to $6 billion as the expenditure on energy imports rose to $24 billion.
Under Sharif's premiership, Pakistan's inflation rate skyrocketed to a multi-decade high of 27.3% in September 2022 and 37.97% in May 2023.
In January 2023, 7 million textile workers became unemployed due to decreasing exports and the government's failure to end the economic crisis.
Despite negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a relief package for Pakistan's economy, the Pakistani rupee continued to depreciate under Sharif's tenure, with increasing inflation, unemployment, and low profits damaging business in Pakistan. The government's target of $7.7 billion for FY 2023 for foreign commercial loans also slumped, with only $0.2 billion gained from July to October 2022.
Foreign affairs
Sharif's government sought to improve ties with the United States after strained relations due to Lettergate, despite Pakistan's close ties with China. Sharif met US President Joe Biden in New York City in September 2022 during the United Nations General Assembly annual summit. During the meeting, Biden pledged support to Pakistan in the aftermath of the devastating floods. In October 2022, President Biden called Pakistan "one of the most dangerous nations in the world" during an address in California. Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rejected the statement as baseless, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US ambassador for an explanation of Biden's remarks.
Sharif also sought closer ties with China and the amplification of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. However, relations grew increasingly complicated due to a rise in attacks on Chinese workers by groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and Balochistan Liberation Army, as the Pakistan Army is responsible for the security of CPEC workers. Sharif visited China on a two-day official visit in November 2022, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, and visiting after the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Sharif pledged to revitalise CPEC and expand trade.
Sharif's first visit as prime minister was to Saudi Arabia in April 2022 on a three-day official visit, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sharif's government also secured an $8 billion package from Saudi Arabia in May 2022, alongside an expansion to a $2.4 billion oil financing facility funded by Saudi Arabia. Sharif visited the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to secure investments in Pakistan; he expressed his desire to facilitate a strong and healthy business environment in Pakistan for Qatari investors during a Pakistan-Qatar trade and investment roundtable meeting in Doha; 2022.
Sharif visited Turkey and met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on several occasions, seeking to further deepen Pakistan-Turkey relations and enhance trade. He invited Turkey to join CPEC.
Sharif's government also inaugurated a new power transmission line with Iran during a ceremony in Pishin along the Iran–Pakistan border with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, facilitating the transmission of up to 100 megawatts of Iranian electricity to Pakistan. Sharif's government also remained committed to the construction of an Iran–Pakistan gas pipeline.
Between premierships
On 9 August 2023, Sharif suggested the dissolution of parliament to President Arif Alvi, three days before the end of its term. On 14 August, the 76th independence day of Pakistan, Sharif's term ended as prime minister and Anwaar ul Haq Kakar was appointed caretaker prime minister until a general election would be held.
On 21 October 2023, Sharif welcomed the return of his brother, Nawaz Sharif, to Pakistan after four years of self-imposed exile. Nawaz returned to Pakistan after obtaining protective bail two days prior, which allowed him to return without being arrested. Nawaz's acquisition of protective bail was a result of the Shehbaz government's adoption of a law which allowed for review petitions against previous Supreme Court verdicts to be filed. Shehbaz was a part of the PML(N) welcome rally for Nawaz in Lahore, where tens of thousands of PML(N) supporters awaited Nawaz's arrival.
On 22 December 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan ruled that the PTI would not be allowed to use its party symbol in the upcoming elections, citing that the party failed to hold intra-party elections up to the commission's standards. This decision was widely controversial and viewed as pre-poll rigging by eliminating PTI opposition, thus clearing the way for Nawaz Sharif to win the election and become prime minister with ease.
A general election was held on 8 February 2024, with Nawaz Sharif serving as the PML(N) candidate for prime minister. However, Nawaz did not get his projected easy victory as PTI candidates, running as independents, managed to secure the most seats. The PML(N) won the second most seats while the PPP won the third most; however, neither the independent candidates or the two largest parties were able to secure the 169 seats needed for a majority. On 20 February, the PML(N) and PPP formed a minority coalition government, and Shehbaz was chosen as the prime ministerial candidate over Nawaz. As a part of the coalition arrangement, senior PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, was chosen as the coalition's candidate for president. The general election was marred with controversy as Pakistan's military establishment was accused of rigging the election to prevent the PTI from winning. International media also denounced the election while members of the international community voiced concern over its fairness.
Prime Minister (2024–present)
On 3 March 2024, Sharif was re-elected as prime minister of Pakistan for a second term after a controversial general election, as he received 201 votes against 92 votes for the PTI candidate, Omar Ayub Khan. He formed a minority government with the Pakistan People's Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and the Balochistan Awami Party.
Economy
Immediately after his swearing-in ceremony, Sharif directed preparations for a national action plan to amplify economic revival. As a part of this plan, Sharif initiated talks with the IMF for a loan agreement and ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to clear tax refunds worth Rs. 65 billion. He also stated that state-owned institutions that caused heavy losses for the government would be privatised, and that the gas sector would adopt smart metering to reduce line losses. Sharif appointed Muhammad Aurangzeb, former president of Habib Bank Limited and JPMorgan banker, as finance minister.
Sharif's government negotiated a bailout agreement with the IMF in July 2024, and secured a $7 billion loan from the IMF in September 2024. However, the government raised taxes by 40% as a part of a new tax scheme to comply with strict IMF regulations. Despite the rise of taxes for Pakistan's middle class, Sharif failed to cut state expenses after a new fiscal year in July 2024. The government also included private companies into the new tax scheme, bumping up exporters' tax rate from 1% to 29%, in addition to a corporate tax of 30%, the highest in South Asia.
In August 2024, it was reported that his government planned to follow a similar approach to the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government by renegotiating some Independent power producer (IPP) contracts to reduce costs.
Sharif's government created a five-year plan for economic development, titled the “Uraan Pakistan: Homegrown National Economic Plan.” As a part of this plan, the government vowed to enhance export-led growth, expand the digital and technology sectors, and address economic challenges through what it described as the "five Es: Exports; E-Pakistan; Equity and Empowerment; Environment, Food and Water Security; and Energy and Infrastructure." The plan also established quantitative targets, particularly achieving a 6% annual GDP growth by 2028, the creation of 1 million jobs per year, boosting exports to $60 billion annually by 2028, and $10 billion worth of private investment annually. The plan also envisaged Pakistan to emerge as a trillion dollar economy by 2035.
During a period of high inflation and public austerity measures, Sharif's administration increased the monthly salaries of ministers and advisers by 188% to Rs519,000.
Youth empowerment
Sharif's government has promoted youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. On International Youth Day in 2024, Sharif announced an Rs.100 billion boost for over 300,000 young entrepreneurs as a part of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, in addition to the launch of several youth empowerment schemes. He also announced that the government would provide 1 million smartphones, tablets, and laptops to students across the country on the basis of merit, alongside personally funding the education of 1,000 graduates of agriculture in China. Sharif also created a youth employment action plan across Pakistan. As a part of this plan, a laptop scheme provided over 600,000 laptops on the basis of merit to young Pakistanis, in addition to youth training initiatives across 268 universities across the country under the Prime Minister Green Youth Program. Sharif also formed the National Youth Council, composed of 113 youth representatives (aged 10–29), aimed at amplifying youth development and integrating young Pakistanis into policy-making.
Healthcare
On World Health Day in 2024, Sharif vowed to expand medical facilities across Pakistan to be accessible for all people, partnering with provincial governments to upgrade and establish medical facilities, launch mobile health clinics, and ensure cost-free treatment for lower-and-middle class families. Sharif also ordered the use of advanced technology to advance digitised health reforms across the country, alongside the creation of oversight mechanisms to crack down on healthcare violations.
Environment
At the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku in November 2024, Sharif presented Pakistan’s priorities for climate, emphasising the need for global "climate justice." Moreover, he revealed his government's National Climate Finance Strategy (NCFS), which sought to reduce Pakistan's greenhouse gas emissions to 50% of the national economy, leveraging 60% of clean energy resources, and shifting 30% of vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030.
Sharif's government has enhanced climate cooperation with international partners including through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Green Belt Programme and the Mangrove Sustainability Initiative, a project to protect, restore, and manage mangrove ecosystems across the globe.
Constitutional changes
In September 2024, Sharif's government announced a "Constitutional Package" which would create a new Federal Constitutional Court. This new court would handle petitions pertaining strictly to interpretations of constitutional clauses. The package also included raising the retirement age of judges in the proposed Constitutional Court to 68, while other judges in Pakistan are required to retire by 65. The package also included a clause that would rule individual legislators' votes against their respective parties as void. In October 2024, Parliament passed the Twenty-sixth Amendment, which expanded parliamentary powers, particularly allowing a parliamentary committee to select the Supreme Court's chief justice. The new amendment was heavily criticised as attacking judicial independence, particularly amplifying judicial action against the PTI and other political opponents. According to the New York City Bar Association, the amendment undermined the separation of powers and judicial independence in Pakistan, hindering the impartiality of the judiciary.
In November 2025, Parliament passed the twenty-seventh Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan proposed by Sharif's government, which asserted the authority of the Federal Constitutional Court—in which judges are selected by the executive branch, and modified Pakistan's military structure. The amendment created the post of Chief of Defence Forces—given to Field Marshal Asim Munir—which oversees all three branches of the Pakistan Armed Forces, and provides Munir with lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan questioned the government's urgency in passing the amendment, while Reema Omer, a legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists, warned that the new amendment only emboldens the executive and legislative branches, weakening the authority of the judiciary and degrading any balance of power within the government. She described the amendment as a "constitutional surrender."
Counterterrorism initiatives
In June 2024, Sharif chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in Islamabad, and announced the launch of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a major counterterrorism initiative that involved both military action and socioeconomic development to hinder the spread of radicalism and terrorism in Pakistan. The launch of the operation came amidst a rise in terrorism in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, with militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban taking shelter in Afghanistan to use it as a base for attacks on Pakistani security forces.
Sharif's government has repeatedly accused India of financially supporting the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups that operate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, describing the Pakistani Taliban as Fitna-al-khawarij (lit. 'Conflict of Kharijites') and Baloch rebel groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan (lit. 'Conflict of India').
Sharif condemned the hijacking of the Jaffar Express on 11 March 2025, describing it as a 'cowardly act.' He stated that the perpetrators, whom he identified as members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), were enemies of the province's development and reaffirmed the government's resolve to eliminate terrorism from the region.
Sharif's government's continued and expanded the deportation of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan that first began under the Anwaar ul Haq Kakar caretaker government in December 2023, citing these undocumented Afghans as a security threat. As of late 2025, the UNHCR confirmed that more than one million Afghans have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan in 2025. Following directives from Sharif's government, this campaign has expanded beyond undocumented individuals to include holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) and Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, with thousands of arrests reported monthly in early 2026.
Democratic backsliding
Immediately after becoming prime minister for his second term, PTI supporters across Pakistan began major protests and demonstrations on 11 March, calling for Sharif's removal from office on allegations of electoral rigging in the 2024 general election. These protests also called for the restoration of the PTI's "stolen mandate" and the release of senior PTI leaders, including Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. In response to these protests, the Pakistani police launched a large-scale national crackdown, arresting and attacking PTI protestors.
On 15 July 2024, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the government was considering a ban on the PTI, citing the violent 2023 Pakistani protests and the PTI allegedly "leaking classified information." The plan to ban the PTI received large-scale backlash from both inside Pakistan and internationally, with several prominent politicians, journalists, and lawyers condemning the move. According to the Brookings Institution, the move against the PTI revealed the government's "weakness and political insecurity," and the move comes during a period where the judiciary of Pakistan is experiencing increasing state pressure to crack down on political opposition.
Sharif's government continued the unofficial ban on social media platform Twitter (X) imposed by the Kakar caretaker government, and installed an internet firewall. The firewall was created by the government in order to block content that it deemed as propaganda. The firewall was widely criticised for censorship. Furthermore, the internet firewall project was estimated to cost $300 Million. The firewall negatively affected businesses in Pakistan.
Civil-military relations
During his premiership, Sharif has maintained positive relations with the Pakistani military. Sharif publicly stated that his government and the military were “on the same page” regarding all key national issues, including national security, counterterrorism, and economic development.
Sharif developed a particularly cordial relationship with Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, describing his relationship with the army as a "role model" for the future. The two leaders held multiple joint meetings on national security and foreign policy, including consultations on Pakistan’s response to India following the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.
In May 2025, the federal cabinet approved Munir’s promotion to the rank of Field Marshal, citing his “decisive leadership” during the conflict. The promotion ceremony, attended by both Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, was held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, where Munir was formally conferred the baton of Field Marshal.
Sharif’s cooperative stance with the military was seen as an effort to maintain political stability and avoid confrontation with the country's powerful military establishment. His government’s approach was described by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif as a “hybrid model” of governance, combining civilian and military decision-making in national and economic affairs.
Foreign policy
Sharif's first foreign visit during his second premiership was to Saudi Arabia in 2024, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. As a part of this meeting, Sharif and bin Salman agreed to extradite the first wave of a $5 billion Saudi investment package to Pakistan. In September 2025, Sharif announced the creation of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, in the aftermath of the Israeli attack on Doha earlier that month; however, the Saudi government stated the agreement was a result of "years of discussions" rather than a response to a recent regional development. Sharif also met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in April 2024, vowing to strengthen economic and security cooperation in the aftermath of a short tit-for-tat conflict between the two nations in January of that year. In June 2025, Sharif expressed his support for Iran amidst the Iran–Israel war.
Sharif emphasised warm relations with the United Arab Emirates, meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on several occasions. Sharif and bin Zayed agreed to enhance Emirati investments in Pakistan. In May 2024, bin Zayed committed to invest $10 billion in Pakistan.
In November 2025, Sharif welcomed King Abdullah II of Jordan to Pakistan on a two-day visit, inviting him to the Global Industrial Defence Solutions in Rawalpindi for a review of Pakistan's indigenous defence production and potential bilateral military cooperation.
Sharif repeatedly condemned Israel's war in Gaza—which he described as a genocide—expressing sympathy with the Palestinian people and support for an independent Palestinian state. In September 2025, he expressed strong support for Donald Trump's Gaza Strip proposal, calling it "a vital step towards peace in the Middle East." Sharif also praised Trump’s leadership and the efforts of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in resolving the conflict. In response, Trump commended Sharif, saying he "fully support[s] the plan 100 per cent."
In February 2026, Sharif condemned U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and the Assassination of Ali Khamenei, describing the event as a violation of international law. On 12 March, Sharif met with Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to express Pakistan's solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the wake of Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia. On 8 April, Pakistan brokered a two-week temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States. Sharif welcomed high-level delegations from both countries, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, to Islamabad for peace talks on 11 April, which ultimately failed the next day.
Public image
During his tenure as chief minister, Sharif developed a reputation as a diligent administrator. He initiated ambitious infrastructure projects in Punjab and was noted for his efficient governance. On 19 December 2016, Vice-Minister Zheng Xiaosong of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party coined the term "Shehbaz Speed" to acknowledge his contributions to expediting the progress of projects within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Subsequently, the term has been employed to characterise the rate of advancement within the CPEC. In official meetings, Saudi officials also declared Sharif the "Man of Action." In 2025, Sharif was recognised among the world's 500 most influential Muslims by The Muslim 500, an annual publication by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan.
Personal life
Family
Sharif married Nusrat Shehbaz in 1973. They had four children: Salman, Hamza, and twin daughters Javeria and Rabia.
His second marriage was to Aaliya Honey, whom he married in 1993. The couple separated after just one year.
In 2003, Sharif married his third wife, author and artist Tehmina Durrani.
Wealth
His family jointly owns Sharif Group and formerly owned Ittefaq Group. In 2013, it was noted that Shehbaz is wealthier than his elder brother Nawaz with a net worth of Rs. 33.69 crore.
Toshakhana records
On 12 March 2023, the Government of Pakistan released a record of Toshakhana gifts retained by government officials from 2003 to 2023, 90 gifts were retained by Sharif from Toshakhana.
Books
Azm O Himmat Kī Dāstān (عزم و همت كى داستان; "A Tale of Resolve and Courage"), Lāhore: Sharīf Publīcations, 2000, 72 pp. History and struggle of business endeavours of the Sharif family.