Sharif Group

The Sharif family is one of the two most important clans in the Pakistani politics and business. It is politically directed more to the right and stand near the Pakistani military and Islamism, while their political opponents - the families Bhutto Zardari - are more left. The Islamic- conservative Muslim League is dominated by the Sharif family.

The main Sharif's the last decades have

• Muhammad Sharif, founder of the industrial group Ittefaq, and two of his sons
• Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's prime minister 1990-1993 and 1997-1999
• Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of the most populous province of Punjab.

They are Sunnis of great influence among the Punjabi and in the economy, while the Bhutto are partially Shiites.