Mian Muhammad Sharif (Punjabi,, 18 November 1919 – 19 October 2004) was a Pakistani businessman who is known as the co-founder of Ittefaq Group and founder of Sharif Group and biggest political parties Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PMLN) Two of his three sons, Nawaz and Shehbaz became former Prime Ministers of Pakistan.

Early life and family

Sharif was born in 1919 to Mian Mohammad Baksh, into a trader Punjabi-speaking family of Kashmiri ancestry in Jati Umra. Their ancestors migrated from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir. His Great Grand Father was Mohammad Bakhsh, Grand Father Abdullah, Father Muhammad Ramzan and Brothers Muhammad Shafi, Abdul Aziz, Barkat Ali, Miraj u Deen, Muhammad Bashir and Siraj u Deen. In 1939, Sharif founded a small steel foundry after selling his farming land. He was married to Shamim Akhtar, with whom he had three sons. All his children became politicians, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Abbas Sharif.

Death

In 2000, Sharif's family was exiled to Saudi Arabia by then Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf. He died of a cardiac arrest in Jeddah, in 19 October 2004, at the age of 84. Sharif was suffering from chronic heart disease and underwent angioplasty twice. In 1982, he had his first heart bypass. His funeral took place in Masjid al-Haram on 30 October 2004. He is buried in Raiwind, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore.