A seasoned and severe leader, Shehbaz Sharif is expected to become the new Prime Minister of Pakistan after the fall of Imran Khan.
Shehbaz Sharif should be appointed on Monday by the National Assembly.
He is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who served three times as prime minister before being impeached 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 a seasoned politician.
He led for years the government of the province of Punjab, the most populous in the country and electoral stronghold of his party.
Severe leader
A stern leader, renowned for his impassioned outbursts, he was known to quote revolutionary poems in his speeches and public meetings, and his colleagues considered him a workaholic.
He had inherited the family steel business with his brother when he was a young businessman, before being elected for the first time to a provincial post in 1988. In these functions, he piloted a series of projects large-scale infrastructure, 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.
However,
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 still pending trial.
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 almost half of its history.
pulling the strings even when she herself is not 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 tabloid headlines 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.
Tehmina 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 will await him if he becomes prime minister.
Economic growth is stagnating and violent actions by the Pakistani Taliban and separatist groups in Balochistan are on the rise.
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