How Nawaz Sharif represents Pak's best chance at becoming 'normal' country

Another administration suffering a crisis of credibility is the last thing Pakistan needs

Nawaz Sharif -- dodgy businessman, convicted criminal, and thrice prime minister of Pakistan -- showed on Friday, in his triumphant return to Pakistan, that he remains by far the country’s most popular politician. Infuriatingly, he also represents Pakistan’s best chance at becoming a “normal” country anytime soon. As he fights what looks very much like an attempt by the military to decide the next election, the rest of us should hope he succeeds.

True, neither Sharif nor the army is actually running. The generals don’t need to get directly involved in the vote, to be held in under a fortnight.