Muhammad Sharif

Muhammad Sharif
Native name محمد شریف‬
Born Mian Muhammad Sharif
1919
Jati Umra, Tarn Taran, British India
Died 19 October 2004 (aged 84-85)
Lahore, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistani
Occupation Founder of Ittefaq Group worth more than Rs.32.15 millions
Spouse(s) Shamim Akhtar
Children Nawaz Sharif
Shahbaz Sharif
Abbas Sharif
Relatives See Sharif family

Mian Muhammad Sharif (Punjabi, Urdu: محمد شریف‬‎ ;1919 – October 2004) was a Pakistani industrialist and the founder of Ittefaq Group and later of Sharif Group. Part of the political prominent Sharif family, he is the father of the three-time elected former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, and former Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif. He died in 2004 at Jeddah during his family exile.[1][2][3]

Early life

Sharif was born in 1919.[2] Sharif was born in a small village in Punjab province near Amritsar (now in the Indian part of Punjab) . In 1936, the family relocated to Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, for business reasons. [1]

With his 6 brothers, Mian Sharif founded a foundry in 1939 , which was gradually developed into a large corporate empire. His operations became the nucleus of the steel company Ittefaq and Sharif became the largest industrial tycoon in the country. During the reign of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1973-1977), much of the family property was nationalized, which led to the Sharif family, in particular Mian's sons Nawaz and Shahbaz became politically active, with the aim of getting back the expropriated family property. Following the ousting of Bhutto in a coup and the installation of a military regime under Gen. Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, the Sharif family was given back their previous ownership. [2]. His ancestors were from Anantnag, Kashmir and is of Kashmiri origin.[4] He was married to Shamim Akhtar, with whom he had three sons. His sons, Nawaz and Shehbaz have both served as the Chief Minister of Punjab while the former also has the honour of being three time Prime Minister.

Politics and welfare projects

Sharif was very close to General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and was known as a respected political personality.[3] He was involved in politics through his sons, Nawaz Sharif who served as the Chief Minister of Punjab as well as the Prime Minister, and Shahbaz Sharif, who also became the Chief minister of

Death

In 2000, Sharif's family was exiled to Saudi Arabia by then Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf.[2] He died of a Cardiac arrest in Jeddah, in 19 October 2004, at the age of 85.[5] Sharif was suffering from chronic heart disease and underwent angioplasty twice. In 1982, he had his first heart bypass.[5][1] His funeral took place in Masjid al-Haram on 30 October 2004.[6] He is buried in Raiwind, Lahore.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Staff Report (30 October 2004). "Mian Sharif dies in Jeddah". Daily Times. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Staff Report (31 October 2004). "Mian Sharif: businessman, kingmaker and philanthropist". Daily Times. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Sharif Family". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Lieven, Anatol (2011). Pakistan: A Hard Country. PublicAffairs. p. 244. ISBN 978-1-61039-021-7. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 Jerar Naqvi, Lubna (31 October 2004). "Mian Sharif passes away". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Sharif, Arshad & Mumtaz, Ashraf (30 October 2004). "Mian Sharif dies in Jeddah". The Dawn. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
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