Playing a prominent role in Pakistani politics, especially in Punjab, since late-1980s, the family held the leadership of the Islamic Democratic Alliance; and has held the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-N for most of the party's existence.
Muhammad Sharif, the father of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, migrated from Jati Umra, Amritsar District (now in Tarn Taran district, India, after the creation of Pakistan in 1947).
The village Jati Umrah in Lahore, is also partially owned by the Sharif family.
According to the book Capitalism's Achilles Heel by Raymond W Baker, former PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif made financial gains of $418 million during his two terms as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The book is a report on the corruption done by politics' most dominant mafias/families in history, which includes the Sharif family as well.