Mian Mansha: building a business empire amid social and political turmoil

Both politicians have played, and continue to play, key roles in Mansha’s life. Sharif, in the first of his three stints as prime minister, between 1990 and 1993, was responsible for privatizing MCB. Under his watch, the bank was sold to a consortium comprising Mansha and several Chinioti families including the Din Group, run by SM Muneer, vice-chairman at MCB. Mansha’s tender was only the third highest, yet it was accepted by the Sharif government.

The two highest bids, led by the Tawakkal and Adamjee families, were rejected by then-finance minister Sartaj Aziz because the bidders had declined to disclose the source of their income. Many in Islamabad have long believed that Mansha’s consortium won with a lower bid because it was willing to hand Sharif a sizeable chunk...