Pakistan and Panamagate: With Nawaz out, the other Sharif has his task cut out

Also, Nawaz Sharif's has nominated Shahbaz Sharif, his younger brother and incumbent Chief Minister of Punjab province, to take over as the country's Prime Minister after two months.

Who is Shahbaz Sharif?

Born in Lahore in 1950, Shahbaz Sharif is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif and the current Chief Minister of Punjab province. He is the son of Muhammad Sharif, founder of the Sharif Group and jointly owns Ittefaq Group.

Shahbaz joined the family business upon graduation from Government College University, Lahore and was elected president of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 1985.

His first political stint was as the member of Punjab's legislative assembly between 1988 and 1990. He then became a member of the National Assembly between 1990 and 1993. On both these occasions, his terms ended prematurely after the assemblies were dissolved.

Shahbaz became the chief minister of Punjab for the first time in 1997, and held on to the post until he was removed during Pervez Musharraf's 1999 military coup.

The coup also toppled his elder brother Nawaz as the Prime Minister. Shahbaz was jailed thereafter and was later exiled to Saudi Arabia upon requests from the Saudi royal family.

In November 2007, the two brothers returned to Pakistan during the last days of Musharraf's regime.

Soon, he was acquitted in a 1998 extrajudicial killings case, allowing him to become the chief minister again.

In February 2009, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding any office of power. But, within two months, a five-member bench of the top court restored his position.

In 2013, he retained power in his home state to become the chief minister for the fifth time.

Why wait for two months?

Unlike in India, where an individual can be sworn in as Prime Minister and then get elected within six months, election rules in Pakistan dictate that an individual first needs to get himself elected to the National Assembly, and only then can he become the Prime Minister.

Shahbaz will be contesting by-election from the constituency that his brother will have to vacate.

Pakistan's military and the civilian governments have always been at war with each other. The military will hence try to capitalise on the power vacuum left by Nawaz Sharif's exit.

Having turned down Musharraf's offer the country's top office shortly after the Kargil War in 1999, Sharif is seen as a person loyal towards the party and his elder brother. He enjoys full support and backing of Nawaz Sharif.

The 65-year-old has vast experience in politics and administration. However, the uncertain political environment that Nawaz Sharif's disqualification has left, coupled with worsening relations with United States, India and an ailing economy will only make his job difficult.