Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
On the development front, Nawaz Sharif completed the construction of South West Asia's first motorway, the 367 km M2, linking Lahore and Islamabad. The motorway, which was initiated during Nawaz Sharif's first term, was inaugurated in November 1997.
During his tenure as the Prime Minister, efforts were made to strengthen the industries with the help of private sector. Projects like Ghazi Brotha and Gawadar Miniport were initiated. Land was distributed among landless peasants in Sindh. Relations with the Central Asian Muslim Republics were strengthened and E. C. O. was given a boost. In an attempt to end the Afghan crisis, the "Islamabad Accord" was reached between various Afghan factions. His most important contribution was economic progress despite American sanctions on Pakistan through the Pressler Amendment. Pakistan Muslim League again won the elections held in February 1997, and Mian Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as Prime Minister with an overwhelming majority. Taking advantage of his absolute majority in the National Assembly, he added a landmark in the constitutional history of Pakistan by repealing the controversial Eighth Amendment. This Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment stripped the President of his powers, under Article 52(b) of the Eighth Amendment, to dismiss the Prime Minister and dissolve the National Assembly. He added another milestone to the Constitution when his Parliament adopted the anti-defection Fourteenth Amendment Bill. His development venture of the Lahore-Islamabad motorway has also been appreciated by a segment of the society, while others have criticized it for being an extravagance for a developing country. Paragraph From
Nawaz Shirf is one of many political leaders who are supporting the current lawyers’ movement against illegal action of President Pervaiz Musharraf on Nov 3rd, 07, which is increasing his fame among the lawyers community, press as well as among the people of Pakistan.
The acme of Nawaz Sharif’s popularity came when his government undertook nuclear tests on 28 May 1998 in response to India's nuclear tests two weeks earlier which unbalance the power in the region. This bold act by Nawaz Sharif was highly appreciated by the people of Pakistan.
