Who is Shahbaz Sharif?

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office in a crucial decision on the Panama Papers case.

The name doing the round for the possible replacement of Nawaz Sharif is his brother and current Punjab Province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Pakistan local media sources said that PM-N party had decided to elect Shahbaz Sharif as prime minister on Nawaz's disqualification. Also doing the rounds is the news that Khawaja Asif would be the interim prime minister for 45 days after which Shahbaz would be elected

for National Assembly seat through bypolls.

Shahbaz Sharif born in 1951 is the current CM of Punjab since June 2013. He earlier held the Punjab CM's post from February 1997 - October 1999 and June 2008 - March 2013.

Shahbaz Sharif is son of late Mian Muhammad Sharif. His brother, Nawaz Sharif was PM of Pakistan before Pakistan Supreme Court disqualified him. His son, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is a sitting member of National Assembly of Pakistan.

He graduated from Government College, Lahore with distinction. He belongs to a family of distinguished business community, started his professional life as a businessman and became the President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 1985.

He joined active politics and served as Member, Punjab Assembly during 1988-90 and as Member, National Assembly during 1990-93.

He was elected as Member, Punjab Assembly again in 1993 and served as Leader of the Opposition during 1993-96.

He became Member of Punjab Assembly for the third term in 1997 and was elected as Chief Minister and functioned as such till 1999 when, as a result of military coup, his government, along with the federal government, was toppled.

Sharif spent years of self-exile in Saudi Arabia, returning to Pakistan in 2007. Sharif was appointed Chief Minister for a second term after the PML-N's victory in the province in the 2008 general elections.

He has played a leading role in the restoration of democracy in the country. He served as CM of Punjab from 2008 to 2013.

Sharif was elected as Chief Minister of Punjab for third time in 2013.

He is a dynamic political leader known for his strong and efficient administration. Better health facilities, educational reforms and economic uplift for the masses. He has made extensive travels abroad.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Friday disqualified finance minister Ishaq Dar from office after an investigation into the wealth of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, state-run PTV news channel said.

The court also disqualified Sharif from office after an investigative panel alleged his family could not account for its vast wealth.

Dar, who was Sharif's former accountant, had submitted documents to the Supreme Court about how the Sharif family obtained their wealth that included a portfolio of upscale London properties.

Dar has been considered one of the most influential people in Sharif's cabinet and credited with bringing the economy on to a more sure footing after the 2013 balance of

payments crisis. AGENCIES