Yousuf Raza Gillani, Son of Syed Alamdar Hussain Shah, was born on June 9, 1952 in an influential family of Multan. His father was descendant of Syed Musa Pak Shaheed, a leading spiritual figure of Multan who had hailed from Iranian province of Gilan. Moreover, One of Gillani’s aunts (sister of his mother) is the wife of Pir Pagara.
He graduated in 1970 and completed his MA in Journalism from Punjab University in 1976 and continued his master degree in ENGLAND.
Yousuf Raza Gillani began his political journey from the platform of Pakistan Muslim League during Zia’s martial law in 1978. He joined the Muslim League’s Central Working Committee and and in 1982 become the member of National Assembly. Later become part of the Pakistan Peoples Party in 1988 and has since remained PPP’s loyal and steadfast supporter.
Gillani was also arrested like other politicians in February 2001 over charges of misuse of authority and spent almost six years in prison. There he wrote a book named “Chahe-Yousuf ki Sada” and the book was well received across the country. He has been nominated as prime Minister of Pakistan by the PPPP now after the long turn outs of various names as nominees.
He has also served as speaker of the National Assembly once from PPPP and was set to continued while Saddar Faooq Laghari dismantled his party’s government with Benazir Bhutto as PM.
He was elected as MNA consecutively three times from Multan. Mr. Gillani is big fond of selective but nice poetry and literature although he himself is not a poet.
Political Career
Yousuf Raza Gilani began his political journey from the platform of Pakistan Muslim League during General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law in 1978. He joined the Muslim League’s Central Working Committee. He was also a cabinet member in the three-year government of Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. He served as Minister of Housing and Works from April 1985 to January 1986 and Railways Minister from January 1986 to December 1986.
After a short stint with the Muslim League, Gilani become part of the Pakistan Peoples Party in 1988 and has since remained PPP’s loyal and steadfast supporter. In the Benazir Bhutto government of 1988-1990, Gilani was again a cabinet minister: He was Minister of Tourism from March 1989 to January 1990 and again served as Minister of Housing and Works from January 1990 to August 1990.
In the Benazir Bhutto government of 1993-1996, Gilani was elected the Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, which he stayed till February 1997.
He has been elected various times as Member of National Assembly from Multan. In the 2008 general election, he beat PML-Q leader Sikandar Hayat Bosan.
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