Bhutto's government suffered with financial mismanagement, corruption charges, racial tensions in her native Sindh Province, issues with the judiciary, violations of the constitution, and intra-party and family feuds.

[1] The PPP won the largest number of seats in the 1993 election and Benazir Bhutto became prime minister at the head of a coalition government.

[2] However, on 5 November 1996, President Leghari, a former ally of Bhutto,[3] dismissed the government 2 years early for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

[4] The allegations included financial mismanagement, failing to stop police killings, destroying judicial independence and violating the constitution.

[5] A number of PPP party members were detained including Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari who was accused of taking commissions for arranging official deals.

However, by the end of December 1996 the government was forced to acknowledge that they were unable to find sufficient evidence to act against leading politicians.

Most forecasts expected Sharif's PML-N to win the election, with them drawing larger crowds than the PPP and appearing to be supported by the army.

Nawaz Sharif was confirmed as prime minister by the National Assembly receiving 177 votes against 16 for the PPP candidate Aftab Shaban Mirani.