Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Caged Lion of Punjab: The fall of Pakistan's ex-prime minister Sharif

Three times he has ruled Pakistan, and three times he has been deposed. Now Nawaz Sharif, the "Lion of Punjab", is being forced to watch the triumph of his great rival Imran Khan from behind bars.

Sharif, imprisoned since mid-July, is starting one of the last chapters of his long career from a cell, where the 68-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for corruption.


His daughter and political heir Maryam is similarly imprisoned, while his wife Kulsoom is fighting cancer thousands of miles away in London. Sharif himself is also in frail health.

And the great gamble he took in returning to Pakistan days ahead of the July 25 election has failed to galvanise support. Instead, Khan is set to take the oath as prime minister and usher in a "New Pakistan" on August 18.

"Now is the time to see how history remembers him," says Muhammad Zubair, a senior member of Sharif's eponymous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Such a scenario seemed unthinkable a year ago when Sharif, then a popular prime minister hailed for his infrastructure projects, seemed to be moving towards easy re-election.

The Supreme Court shattered his momentum on July 28, 2017, controversially deposing him following a corruption investigation. He was banned from politics, and finally jailed just two weeks before the vote.

The "Lion of Punjab", named for the wealthy province which is his family stronghold, has insisted that the powerful Pakistani army -- assisted by the judiciary -- orchestrated his fall.

Khan, who captained Pakistan to World Cup cricket victory in 1992, has dismissed the claims, as have the generals.

But Sharif is not alone: observers have described the campaign as the "dirtiest" in Pakistan's history because of widespread allegations of military interference. The opposition is protesting against alleged electoral fraud.

Supporters say Pakistanis will remember that Sharif and daughter Maryam were in London with his ailing wife when their jail sentences were handed down.

They chose to return to Pakistan, where they were arrested as soon as they landed.

But the hoped-for surge of support for his party -- led into the campaign by his less charismatic brother, Shahbaz -- has not materialised. Once ubiquitous in the media, Sharif has issued no public statement in weeks.

"They wanted to sell this politically. But the gamble didn't pay off," analyst Fahd Husain said.

- Political legacy -

Sharif is "being punished only for one reason, and that reason is that he is not bowing his head" to the military, Mushahidullah Khan, a former PML-N minister, told AFP.

Imran Khan, who first instigated the corruption charges against Sharif, has told AFP the PML-N's claims are "conspiracy theories" and a "smokescreen".

The court decision ousting Sharif may have been controversial, but repeated accusations over decades mean he is widely perceived as corrupt. Critics dismiss him as a leader who stole billions from Pakistan, giving Khan's vow to end graft an extra edge.

But Sharif's supporters staunchly frame his ouster as part of the long battle between the civilian and military leadership for power in Pakistan, whose history is punctuated by coups and assassinations.

"(Sharif) is fighting for civilian supremacy. If he is going to jail, it is worth giving that sacrifice," says the PML-N's Zubair.

Sharif has been down and out before. Expelled from power in 1993 on suspicion of corruption, he won the 1997 election, only to be ousted and exiled after a military coup in 1999.

He returned in 2007, and took power once more in 2013.

Zubair said he will not fight for a fourth term. Now, it is his political legacy at stake.

Saving that might not be up to him. "If (Imran Khan's party) does well, Nawaz Sharif's narrative will be diluted," said the analyst Husain.

- Comeback? -

The PML-N has criticised the conditions of Sharif's detention. Sharif, who suffers from high blood pressure, was briefly hospitalised in late July.

"He looks far better than the first time," Zubair, who visits Sharif regularly, told AFP.

The ex-prime minister is "not in the worst possible cell", and even has a television with three channels -- state-run PTV, a weather channel and a sports channel.

But he is in solitary confinement. "He is not even allowed to meet Maryam, other than on Sundays," Zubair said.

His fate has divided once-fervent supporters.

"Many PML-N leaders told him not to speak against the army and judiciary, but he didn't listen," said Naja Nisar, an estate agent in Rawalpindi.

Kashan Arshid, a former party youth leader in Rawalpindi, is unwilling to write Sharif off.

"It's the third time he's suffered. Each time ... people say he is finished," Arshid said.

"But every time he comes back, stronger. The lion will roar again."

More For You

Alcaraz &  Djokovic

Djokovic (L) and Alcaraz embrace during practice prior to The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26.

Getty

Wimbledon 2025: Alcaraz eyes third straight title as Sinner, Djokovic lead challenge

CARLOS ALCARAZ will look to win his third consecutive Wimbledon title this year, reinforcing his position as the leading player on all surfaces. Jannik Sinner, who lost to Alcaraz in a closely fought French Open final, heads to London hoping to reverse the result.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic will also be in contention. At 38, this could be his best chance to win a record 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic lost the last two Wimbledon finals to Alcaraz and will aim to reclaim the trophy at the All England Club.

Keep ReadingShow less
F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prada 2026 sandals

Prada acknowledges Indian influence behind its Spring Summer 2026 men’s footwear

Instagram/prada/iStock

Prada finally acknowledges Kolhapuri chappals inspired 2026 sandals after Indian backlash over Milan show

Quick highlights:

• Prada confirms Indian roots behind 2026 ‘leather sandals’ after controversy
• Indian artisans and officials accused the brand of cultural appropriation
• The footwear resembles traditional Kolhapuri chappals with GI status
• Prada says designs are still in development and open to dialogue with India

Keep ReadingShow less
Shefali Jariwala

Shefali Jariwala dies at 42 after cardiac arrest in Mumbai hospital

Instagram/shefalijariwala

Kaanta Laga star Shefali Jariwala dies of cardiac arrest at 42, postmortem underway in Mumbai

Quick highlights:

  • Actor and model Shefali Jariwala passed away late Friday night in Mumbai at the age of 42.
  • She was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital after a cardiac arrest but was declared dead on arrival.
  • The Kaanta Laga star was married to actor Parag Tyagi, who was seen grieving outside the hospital.
  • Mumbai Police and forensic teams are investigating, with an official cause of death yet to be confirmed.

Actor and television personality Shefali Jariwala, who rose to fame with the early 2000s music video Kaanta Laga, has died following a sudden cardiac arrest. The 42-year-old was declared dead at Bellevue Hospital in Mumbai late on Friday night, 28 June. Her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, reportedly rushed her to the hospital around midnight with the help of close friends.

Despite immediate medical attention, doctors could not revive her. A hospital source confirmed she was “dead on arrival” at 11:27 pm. Her death has left friends, fans, and colleagues in shock, as many described her as healthy, cheerful, and actively working.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less