Many observers in Pakistan as well as abroad believe that the crisis in Pakistan is the product of the apex court’s ruling that ousted the former premier from both offices. His younger brother, and Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif has been nominated as the acting president of PML-N. Despite the fact that PML-N is undergoing a tough time, its popularity among the masses has not been reduced. Initially, there was a general perception in the public that with Nawaz’s ouster, PML-N politics has also been buried. But this theory was debunked when the party won by-elections by a huge margin. The party has indisputably strong roots and mandate. How Shahbaz will do as party’s head and what challenges he will face are serious questions that need to be addressed. Would he listen to his elder brother now? How Maryam Nawaz will place herself now as power has moved away from his father? Would Shahbaz be successful enough to control the dissenting voices like former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar. How opposition parties will deal with him in election year? How important members of international community view him as he has already established a profile in front of these countries? Shahbaz is known as ‘governance guy’ and tough administrator among bureaucracy who hardly tolerates malpractices in administrative affairs but he is not structural reformer. Many believe that the reason PML-N gets majority and wins elections is because of good governance and preference which Shahbaz Sharif has shown. He is known to be in good books of national security establishment as Shahbaz is not hardliner like his elder brother. Shahbaz has been part of game since PML N is in power corridors so he understands the rules of games in Pakistani politics. He has run Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan with population of more than eleven million three times. He has support in party because as he headed party in Punjab so his influence is there among rank and file. So he would be taken serious but Nawaz Sharif,s influence in decision making cannot be ignored. Because Nawaz Sharif would have moral influence on party and Shahbaz, even his institutional powers have been stripped off. Political leadership would keep contacting Nawaz for getting favors and asking for pushing his brother for getting seats in next elections and for development funds. Initially, there was a general perception in the public that with Nawaz’s ouster, the PML-N has also been buried. But this theory was debunked when the party won the recent by-elections by a huge margin. The party has indisputably strong roots and mandate Maryam Nawaz Sharif who is considered de facto leader of party and biggest stakeholder of political empire of Nawaz Sharif being his daughter. She is actively engaged in politics and runs social media cell of party and she is considered the force behind this idea of having sanctity of vote since Nawaz was ousted from office. She has not been in good terms with his first cousin Hamza Shahbaz who is son of Shahbaz Sharif and has been involved in politics of Punjab for long. Maryam will definitely not be comfortable under his uncle in politics but she will keep using her father’s shadow to influence political leadership and party decision making. Maryam along with his father will lead campaign for elections and she will create situation where she would not let her uncle grow and act independently. Otherwise his cousin Hamza may get more political space which she does not want Hamza to get. She will keep using social media for projecting herself and for her father and will sell story of victimhood of her father for gaining legitimacy in elections and party. Shahbaz Sharif will have important task of controlling powerful dissenting voices like former interior minister Chadury Nisar Ali Khan. Who is famous to be in good books of establishment and a good friend of Shahbaz Sharif. Many believe in this conspiracy that Shahbaz and Nisar together lay plans against Nawaz at few occasions. Nawaz and Maryam will not like mainstreaming of Nisar since he did not support Nawaz for confrontation with institutions and stopped them and gave dissenting note openly. Nisar has openly commented he is not going to consider Maryam a leader of party which many agree in party but cannot speak loud as they do not want to lose space while new party leadership is emerging in shape of Maryam. Shahbaz will face difficulty in accommodating Nisar although both are friends. Opposition parties especially Imran Khan who kept engaging Nawaz Sharif and in end won case on panama papers would try to damage Shahbaz Sharif politically as he is next Prime Minister candidate and party head now. Since Shahbaz has delivered in Punjab so opposition will face hard time in defaming and making things tough for him. He may not come in trap in Model Town inquiry as justice Baqir Najfi report has not held him responsible. Plus Hudabiya Papers case is not being opened as Supreme Court turned down that request. So Shahbaz may not be in any crises or quagmire in election year. Shahbaz has developed good terms with international community especially in Muslim world and in many western countries including china. New PML N leader has legitimacy and he has delivered and party is in confrontation mode with institutions and charged so he important political player in Pakistani politics once again. The writer is Strategic and Political analyst. He teaches international politics in NUML Islamabad Published in Daily Times, March 3rd 2018.