Nawaz Sharif's Second Term

When Nawaz Sharif returned to power for his second term as Prime Minister of Pakistan in February 1997, he did so with one of the largest electoral mandates in the country’s history. His Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) swept the polls, securing more than two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly. This overwhelming victory gave him not just the authority but also the confidence to push through sweeping political and economic reforms. However, as history shows, the second term of Nawaz Sharif was not just about reforms and the consolidation of power but also about rising tensions, institutional clashes, and ultimately, a military coup that ended his tenure.

The political environment in which he began his second term was very different from the one he had faced earlier. After years of instability, constant changes in leadership, and a weak parliamentary system, Nawaz Sharif was in a position to finally exercise his vision with little resistance from opposition parties. The Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Benazir Bhutto, had just been dismissed from power on charges of corruption and mismanagement, leaving the field wide open for Nawaz to establish his dominance. With a majority that few prime ministers before him enjoyed, Sharif focused on consolidating authority and pushing through policies that he argued would stabilize both the economy and governance.

One of his most significant political achievements during this term was the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which effectively stripped the president of the power to dismiss the government and dissolve the assemblies. This was a bold move that shifted the balance of power firmly in favor of the Prime Minister’s office, reversing a trend that had plagued the country since the late 1980s. For Nawaz, this amendment was a way of ensuring that his government could not be arbitrarily dismissed like so many others before it. For his critics, however, it was an alarming sign of his growing authoritarian tendencies. By removing key checks on executive authority, he set the stage for confrontations with other institutions, most notably the judiciary and the military.

The economy was another central focus of Nawaz Sharif’s second term. He advocated for the privatization of state-owned enterprises, the liberalization of the economy, and measures to encourage foreign investment. Infrastructure development, particularly in roads and highways, was emphasized, with projects like the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway symbolizing his ambition to modernize Pakistan’s connectivity. Yet these projects, while impressive, also became controversial. Critics pointed to corruption, inflated costs, and the burden of heavy loans that came with such large-scale development. While Nawaz’s supporters viewed him as a leader with a vision for progress, his opponents painted him as someone more interested in grand projects than in addressing the structural problems of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

On the international stage, Nawaz Sharif’s second term is remembered most for the nuclear tests of May 1998. Following India’s nuclear tests earlier that month, the pressure on Pakistan was immense. International actors, particularly the United States, urged Nawaz to refrain from retaliating, offering economic incentives and aid in exchange for restraint. Yet, within Pakistan, the public and military pressure was overwhelming. National pride, security concerns, and political necessity all pushed Nawaz toward authorizing the tests. On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out a series of nuclear explosions in Chagai, Balochistan, instantly transforming the country into a declared nuclear power. The move was met with widespread celebration at home, with Nawaz hailed as a hero who had safeguarded national honor and security. Internationally, however, Pakistan faced sanctions, economic isolation, and further challenges to an already struggling economy.

The nuclear decision cemented Nawaz’s place in history, but it also deepened the country’s economic difficulties. Sanctions exacerbated the financial crisis, foreign reserves declined sharply, and inflation increased. The government found itself grappling with the fallout of an economy already under stress. Instead of uniting the country behind him, these problems began to expose cracks within his administration. Tensions with institutions also became more visible during this period. His government clashed with the Supreme Court, and his aggressive stance toward judges, including the storming of the Supreme Court building by his supporters in 1997, was seen as an unprecedented attack on judicial independence. This event badly tarnished his democratic credentials and gave ammunition to those who accused him of authoritarian tendencies.

Relations with the military, which had always played a dominant role in Pakistan’s politics, also began to sour. The Kargil conflict of 1999 marked a defining moment in this rupture. Pakistani forces, under the leadership of Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf, had occupied strategic positions in Kargil on the Indian side of the Line of Control. When the conflict escalated, Nawaz faced intense international pressure, especially from the United States, to withdraw. His visit to Washington in July 1999 to negotiate an end to the conflict is often seen as an attempt to prevent a larger war with India; however, it also exposed a serious disconnect between him and the military leadership. The army felt betrayed by the civilian government’s handling of the issue, while Nawaz reportedly viewed the operation as reckless and damaging to Pakistan’s global reputation.

This breakdown in trust eventually led to Nawaz’s downfall. In October 1999, when he attempted to dismiss General Musharraf and replace him with another general while Musharraf was abroad, the army responded with a coup. Musharraf’s takeover marked the end of Nawaz Sharif’s second term and pushed Pakistan back into military rule. Nawaz was arrested, charged with various crimes, and eventually exiled. What had begun as one of the strongest civilian mandates in Pakistan’s history ended in one of the most abrupt and dramatic ousters.

Nawaz Sharif’s second term was a period of contradictions. It was marked by bold decisions, such as the nuclear tests and constitutional changes, but also marred by confrontations with institutions, economic crises, and the Kargil debacle. His supporters remember him as a leader who dared to strengthen Pakistan’s defense and push for development. His critics recall him as a prime minister who weakened democratic institutions, concentrated too much power in his own hands, and failed to manage relations with the military and judiciary effectively.

The second term of Nawaz Sharif offers a lesson in the fragility of Pakistan’s democracy during the 1990s. Even with a massive mandate, the lack of consensus, the mistrust between institutions, and the over-centralization of authority made stability elusive. It remains one of the most studied and debated periods in Pakistan’s political history, showing how the balance between civilian governments, the military, and the judiciary can shape the fate of leadership. Nawaz Sharif’s rise and fall during this era continue to influence political debates in Pakistan today, as questions about democracy, authority, and civil-military relations remain as relevant as ever.