When first elected, Sharif also made faux pas

Former PM also faced some embarrassing situations in his earlier days as chief executive

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan is not the only prime minister who fumbled and made conspicuous faux pas during his oath-taking and Guard of Honour ceremonies. His predecessor, Nawaz Sharif, also faced some embarrassing situations when he became the premier for the first time three decades ago.

On August 18, Khan, while take oath as 22nd premier of Pakistan, stuttered and mispronounced words. He was also found looking around and playing with his ring while being presented the Guard of Honour.

However, Sharif, Imran Khan’s predecessor, and his most staunch political rival, also had difficult times when he was first elected as the PM back in the year 1990.



“His interesting yet unexpected movements and gestures would often catch attention of his cabinet members, senior government officials and even the foreign dignitaries,” recalls a seasoned leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

“Sharif was known for his love for desi food. During official meetings, the ex-PM would often remember with fondness names of the food outlets offering traditional cuisine in different cities of Pakistan,” recalls the insider, who wishes to be kept unnamed.

He recalls how Sharif once interrupted the otherwise serious proceedings of a cabinet meeting only to praise a food outlet located in Mazang Lahore, which, according to him, offered ‘world’s best nihari.’

“Mian sahib was a ‘foodie’. It was like his love for food would know no bounds. He would pay sudden and unexpected visits to different food outlets of his choice disregarding official commitments,” he said.

Sharif would often bypass the protocol and security measures to visit different desi food outlets, especially those serving nihari and paaye despite repeated requests by the security officials, who counseled him not to visit public places and to maintain a safe distance with public.

He was so fond of food that special arrangements had to be made to provide traditional Pakistani food during his foreign visits. It was also a routine to have the food of his choice in helicopters and planes during his visit to any part of the country. This trend continued during his second term as premier.

In his third term, however, things changed as Sharif developed some complications related to heart and was advised by his physicians to stay away from cholesterol, fats and oil rich diet.

Still, Sharif, at times, would ignore the prescribed diet plan and order food of his choice for which even helicopter were flown from Islamabad to bring him desi food from some favourite restaurants in Lahore.

Another PML-N stalwart, who is known for being more close to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif than his elder brother, recalls Sharif’s oath-taking ceremony in 1990. Sharif, he says, was not happy that the sherwani he wore was a ‘bit too loose’ compared to his physique.

“Mian sahib did not get the time to try the sherwani beforehand due to his other hectic engagements. He was not happy to see that the sherwani did not fit his size. But there wasn’t much time to have this dress altered since the guests including foreign dignitaries had starting arriving at the oath-taking ceremony. So, he had to manage with the loose sherwani.”

Recalling another instance, the party leader says Sharif during his first stint as premier once became so ‘excited’ to welcome a visiting an American dignitary that he went outside the PM House, where his  security staff requested him to go inside.

“Dignitaries like prime ministers and presidents are often required to act in a mechanical manner. The new entrants to these offices are not aware of the protocol and procedures and end up acting naively. But they learn and — so will Imran Khan,” the leader says.

Sharif’s first Eid in Adiala Jail

Nawaz Sharif would be celebrating his first Eid in Adiala Jail on Wednesday. This is his third Eid after being disqualified from premiership by the Supreme Court in Panamagate case on July 28 last year.



Sharif family, including Shehbaz, his mother and other family members would arrive on Eid day from Lahore to greet Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in Adiala Jail, according to PML-N leaders.

Captain (retd) Safdar was shifted to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology on Tuesday due to health reasons. It was not clear till the filing of this report whether he would be kept in hospital or be sent back to the jail.

The former ruling party leadership has sought permission from Adiala Jail authorities to distribute beef and mutton among inmates. Special prayers would be held at Sharif family’s residence in Raiwand, Lahore, ‘for the wellbeing of Sharif family’ after slaughter ritual.