World Affairs Board - View Single Post - No one can stop Nawaz’s return, revival of democracy

Lahori paa jee · 04-11-2006, 16:00 PM

The Sharif behind the Sharifs

Quote:

The death of their father has deprived Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and rest of the family of their main Source of guidance. Octogenarian Mian Muhammad Sharif was a man who could see into the future far more clearly than his sons could despite their greater knowledge of worldly affairs and their sources of information.

A man of steel nerves, he had mastered the art of dealing with difficult situations and striking the iron while it was hot. He kept Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif together even when the two had different opinions on various issues. He effectively thwarted all moves to drive a wedge between the two brothers when the younger one was being given seductive political offers.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif, family sources had told this reporter when the military establishment was in contact with him, was offered the post of prime minister as a replacement for his brother Nawaz Sharif. Mian Sharif vetoed the plan out of hand, telling Shahbaz that it was a conspiracy to tear them apart. He was also told by his far-sighted father that if the elder brother was not being tolerated, the younger could not expect a different treatment.

It is difficult to say how Shahbaz Sharif would have responded to the offer if the father had not intervened. What can be said without fear of contradiction is that the Sharifs outfoxed most of their political rivals because of the guidance available to them from their father.

The future would prove that even his decision to leave the country along with the rest of the family was the best in the given situation. He saved Mian Nawaz Sharif by preferring pragmatism over foolhardiness. Having overthrown Mr Sharif in October 1999, Gen Pervez Musharraf had said that Nawaz Sharif was his enemy No 1.

The former prime minister was facing a number of cases and his fate was at the mercy of the general. Although Mian Shahbaz was opposed to the idea of leaving the country, Mian Sharif was not willing to take any risks. It is because of the decision of their father that all sons and their families are safe - though in another country - and can think of a viable future for themselves.

It is hard to believe that Rafiq Tarar, handpicked by Mian Sharif, would have stayed on as president despite the overthrow of the PML government without the consent of his 'benefactor'.

He was allowed to remain head of state to prevent Gen Musharraf from taking any unpleasant decision against the prime minister he had toppled. After migrating to Pakistan from Jati Umra (India) well before partition, Mian Sharif had started a small steel business. He enjoyed the confidence of his six brothers.

Their business made rapid progress, thanks to their enviable unity. As a result of his hard work, the slim and smart Mian Sharif made the Ittefaq Group one of the biggest industrial empires of the country. Due to the guidance of his father - and support from generals Ziaul Haq and Ghulam Jilani Khan - Mian Nawaz Sharif reached the heights of politics in a shorter time than it has taken many others in the field.

Mian Sharif won the hearts of the bureaucrats holding important positions in the Sharif government. He treated many of them like his children because of which they became loyal supporters of Nawaz Sharif.

When the father of the prime minister or the chief minister treats his sons' aides like his own sons, they can't be expected to hatch conspiracies or go for backstabbing.

This way the father used to strengthen the hands of his sons. He had declared even Gen Musharraf as his fourth son. In the beginning relations between the Sharifs and Gen Musharraf were exemplary.

Mian Sharif once acknowledged that he advised his son on various important issues. For example, when Mr Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister during 1990-93, Mian Sharif said in an interview that he had asked him to improve relations with India. "I have told him to hold talks with Narasimha Rao (then Indian prime minister)", Mian Sharif was reported to have said in an interview. Mian Sharif set up the famous Ittefaq Hospital (Model Town), the Sharif Medical City and the Sharif Education Complex (Raiwind). The medical projects are equipped with the latest facilities.

Thousands of people are treated there every year. A few years before being banished to Saudi Arabia, the industrialist family also developed an interest in farming. As a result, over 360 acres of land were purchased at a place in Raiwind the family named Jati Umra after their ancestral village in India. It is where Mian Sharif will be buried.