Yousaf Raza Gillani (1993-1997)

Early Life and Background: Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was born on June 9, 1952, in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. He comes from a prominent political family and his father, Malik Makhdoom Alam Gillani, was also a well-known political figure.

Political Journey: Gillani’s political career began when he joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a major political party in Pakistan. He became actively involved in politics during the 1970s.

Ministerial Positions: Gillani held several ministerial positions in various governments. Notably, he served as the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab from 1985 to 1986. He also held the position of Federal Minister for Housing and Works in the 1990s.

Chief Minister of Punjab: Gillani became the Chief Minister of Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, in 1988. He held this position until 1990.

National Assembly and Prime Ministership: Yousaf Raza Gillani was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2002. He gained significant prominence during his tenure as a member of parliament.

He is best known for his role as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Gillani served as the 16th Prime Minister of Pakistan from March 25, 2008, to April 26, 2012. He was appointed by then-President Asif Ali Zardari, who was the co-chairperson of the PPP.

Dismissal and Legal Proceedings: Gillani’s tenure as Prime Minister came to an end due to a legal dispute. In April 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified him from holding office due to his refusal to write a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against then-President Asif Ali Zardari. This led to his disqualification and subsequent resignation.

Later Political Involvement: After stepping down from the Prime Minister’s position, Gillani continued to be active within the PPP and remained engaged in political activities.