Yousaf Raza Gillani (2008-2012)
June 9, 2023
Yousaf Raza Gillani is a Pakistani politician who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from March 2008 to June 2012. He was born on June 9, 1952, in Karachi, Pakistan.
Gillani comes from a political family with a history of involvement in Pakistani politics. He joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a major political party in Pakistan, and rose through the ranks. He held various ministerial positions during the governments of Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari.
In the general elections held in February 2008, the PPP emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly, and Gillani was nominated as the candidate for Prime Minister. He was elected by the National Assembly and assumed office on March 25, 2008.
During his tenure, Gillani’s government faced numerous challenges, including political instability, a struggling economy, and security concerns. He focused on improving governance, strengthening democratic institutions, and addressing pressing issues such as poverty, inflation, and energy shortages.
One of the major events during Gillani’s tenure was the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, before the general elections. Her tragic death led to a wave of public sentiment and sympathy for the PPP, which contributed to their electoral success.
Gillani’s government also had to deal with ongoing tensions between civilian authorities and the military establishment. The “Memogate” controversy in 2011, involving a secret memo allegedly seeking US support against the military, led to further political turmoil and strained relations between the government and the military.
In June 2012, Gillani was disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan due to his refusal to pursue corruption charges against then-President Asif Ali Zardari. He was replaced by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as Prime Minister.
After leaving office, Gillani remained active in politics and held various positions within the PPP. He has also been involved in diplomatic activities, representing Pakistan at international forums.