It has finally happened; a long awaited democratic transition from one elected government to another has occurred with the swearing in of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif as the 18th prime minister of Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif bagged an amazing 244 votes in the National Assembly for this victory. The number suggests that other parties must have voted for him instead of his competition, which were the PPP’s Amin Fahim and the PTI’s Javed Hashmi. For most of the country, which had come out in droves to vote on May 11, 2013, this ceremony represented closure on all those years Pakistan suffered under the dark clouds of dictatorship. This is Nawaz Sharif’s third stint as prime minister and may just be a testament to his staying power in politics. After being toppled by a military coup and living in forced exile for years, to return to power is a feat. But that also means all eyes are now on him because Pakistan is stuck in a maze of problems, the kind that did not exist when he was last prime minister. We have become a frontline ally with the US in the war on terror after 9/11, we have Taliban militants ravaging the country in all four provinces, we are battling an energy crisis that has crippled every business and we have an economy that seems to be breathing its last. Yes, Nawaz Sharif has become the prime minister once again but the next five years will probably be the toughest he will ever oversee.
In his first speech as the 18th prime minister, Nawaz Sharif demonstrated his newfound maturity by calling on all stakeholders to come together and solve the massive political and economic challenges being faced by the country. He also called upon the US to halt its drone strikes in the country, and herein lies one of his biggest challenges. Nawaz Sharif has vowed to keep the foreign policy portfolio to himself and has stated how he expects the military to serve under civil rule. Early on in his tenure, the US will be set to withdraw from Afghanistan (in 2014) and how the relationship with the US will be carried forward depends on how PM Sharif handles it. How Mr Sharif will work with the US will determine wether our sovereignty can be defended against drone strikes. The argument being made is that more militants are created as a reaction to the US’s reliance on drone strikes. Also important is how he will recast civil-military relations to establish civilian supremacy. For the average citizen, the only matter that is of concern is the energy crisis. The whole country labours away now in darkness with record hours of load shedding being observed across the country, bringing everyday life and business to a halt. Nawaz Sharif has been vowing to reduce these debilitating power cuts and has promised to take steps to end this misery once and for all. In turn, these measures will affect how businesses prosper and the economy progresses. For a businessman like Mr Sharif, he will be aware that success in solving the energy crisis will translate into prosperity. He has also announced his plans for a new silk route between Gwadar and the western parts of China. This trade corridor could very well be a new beginning for Pakistan and its economy but, one is sure, will only happen once the country’s other myriad problems are sorted out. Nawaz Sharif’s business-friendly resolve must also see a balancing act between the country’s private sector’s interests and further privatisation plans and creating social safety nets so that a majority of the population receives some sort of quality of life. It is a hard road ahead and it is a time when the masses are particularly sensitive about which direction the country is headed. It would do well for the new prime minister to take each step very carefully. *