The anti-global Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif has built his entire career on Islamist populism. In 1990 he ran as the candidate for prime minister of the Islamic Democratic Alliance, known as IJI because of its Urdu initials. Sharif became Prime Minister for the first time after a nasty anti-Bhutto and anti-western campaign. Here is what the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), which sent observers for that election, had to say about that campaign:

“Few substantive political, economic or social issues were debated during the campaign. Even the issuance of manifestos by the competing parties was a proforma affair. The campaign was quickly reduced to a single issue: whether the people supported or opposed the Bhutto family.
“The IJI attacked Benazir Bhutto’s record in office and emphasized the corruption of her ministers and of her husband, Asif Zardari. Members of the IJI criticized not only Bhutto’s abilities, but also her right, as a woman, to rule a Muslim state. The PDA appeared disorganized and portrayed itself as a victim of the ‘establishment.’ It felt harassed by the changes lodged against PDA leaders in the accountability tribunals.
“The most contentious element of the election campaign, and perhaps the most successful from an IJI perspective, was the IJI’s strategy of tying Benazir and Nasrat Bhutto to the United States and to the so-called “Indo-Zionist lobby” in the U.S. The lobby was portrayed as having close ties to India and Israel, and opposing Pakistan’s development of a nuclear capability. In particular, the Bhuttos were accused of “selling-out” Pakistan’s nuclear program. (See Appendix XII)

From the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs report titled “The October 1990 Elections in Pakistan: Report of the International Delegation”, on page 38.