However, his tough and rigorous Hard Left ideas led to developing political differences with Benazir Bhutto in the 1990s and was sacked by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1996 after levelling the accusations against Asif Zardari for the murder of Murtaza Bhutto. Disheartened by Benazir's decision, Meraj Khalid then worked to rally the anti-Benazir Bhutto forces and his efforts contributed to Nawaz Sharif and conservatives' landslide 1997 victory in the parliamentary elections, but as prime minister Meraj Khalid continued to live his simple life and his Lahore home too remained as accessible as ever.