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Politics & World • Pakistan Politics

Nawaz Sharif

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani businessman and politician who has served as prime minister of Pakistan three non-consecutive times.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani businessman and politician who has served as prime minister of Pakistan three non-consecutive times. He is the longest-serving prime minister in Pakistan’s history and remains a major figure in Pakistani politics.

Early life and business background

Nawaz Sharif was born in Lahore on 25 December 1949 and is identified as both a politician and businessman. Sources describe him as coming from a prominent industrial family and entering politics after business interests were affected by nationalization.

Prime ministerial terms

Sharif first became prime minister in 1990 and later returned to office in 1997 and 2013. All three terms ended before completion, and together they make him Pakistan’s longest-serving prime minister by total time in office.

Sharif was disqualified from office in 2017 amid corruption allegations and later faced convictions in absentia. BBC and Britannica note that those convictions were overturned in late 2023, after which he re-entered electoral politics and returned to the National Assembly in 2024.

Political legacy

Sharif has been a dominant figure in Pakistan’s civilian politics and in the Pakistan Muslim League (N). Accounts of his career emphasize both economic-development policies and repeated conflicts with other institutions of state.

Key facts

  • Sharif served as prime minister in three non-consecutive terms between 1990 and 2017.
  • He is widely described as the longest-serving prime minister in Pakistan’s history.
  • He was disqualified from holding public office in 2017 and later returned to public office after legal decisions were overturned in 2023.
  • Sharif is associated with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and is a central figure in Pakistani electoral politics.
  • He was born in Lahore in 1949 and is also identified as a businessman.
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Canadian context

No direct Canada-specific connection is established in the provided sources, but Nawaz Sharif is relevant to Canadian readers as a major figure in South Asian politics and Pakistan’s recent history.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nawaz Sharif?
He is a Pakistani politician and businessman who served three non-consecutive terms as prime minister of Pakistan.
When was Nawaz Sharif born?
He was born on 25 December 1949 in Lahore, Pakistan.
How many times did Nawaz Sharif serve as prime minister?
He served as prime minister three times: 1990–1993, 1997–1999, and 2013–2017.
What is Nawaz Sharif known for in Pakistan’s political history?
He is known as Pakistan’s longest-serving prime minister and as a leading figure in the Pakistan Muslim League (N).
Was Nawaz Sharif removed from office?
Yes. Sources state that each of his prime-ministerial terms ended before completion, and he was disqualified from public office in 2017.
Did Nawaz Sharif return to politics after legal cases?
Yes. Britannica reports that after convictions were overturned in late 2023, he ran again and returned to the National Assembly in 2024.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawaz_Sharif
    Supports: Birth date, full name, offices held, and three non-consecutive prime ministerial terms.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Nawaz-Sharif
    Supports: Biography, birth place, prime ministerial terms, disqualification, overturned convictions, and return to parliament.
  3. Simple English Wikipediahttps://www.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawaz_Sharif
    Supports: Three non-consecutive prime ministerial terms and longest-serving prime minister claim.
  4. Al Jazeerahttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2013/5/12/profile-nawaz-sharif-2
    Supports: Political profile and earlier terms in office.
  5. Brookings Institutionhttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/nawaz-sharif-pakistans-comeback-kid/
    Supports: Background, family business origins, and political rise.
  6. CNNhttps://www.cnn.com/world/middleeast/nawaz-sharif-fast-facts
    Supports: Birth details and educational background.
  7. Government of Punjabhttps://cm.punjab.gov.pk/node/104
    Supports: Political party affiliation and official profile details.
  8. Pakistan Muslim League (N)https://pmln.org/mian-muhammad-nawaz-sharif/
    Supports: Party affiliation and claim of being Pakistan’s longest-serving prime minister.