Yusuf Raza Gilani

Yousaf Raza Gillani یوسف رضا گیلانی
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 March 2008
President	Pervez Musharraf Muhammad Mian Soomro (Acting) Asif Ali Zardari
Preceded by	Muhammad Mian Soomro
Speaker of the National Assembly
In office 17 October 1993 – 16 February 1997
Preceded by	Gohar Ayub Khan
Succeeded by	Elahi Bux Soomro
Personal details
Born	(1952-06-09) 9 June 1952 Karachi, Pakistan
Political party	Pakistan Peoples Party
Spouse	Fauzia Gillani
Alma mater	Forman Christian College Government College University University of the Punjab

Yousuf Raza Gilani MP English IPA: jusæf ɾæzə ɡillɑnɪ̈ (Saraiki, Urdu: یوسف رضا گیلانی; June 9, 1952) is the 16th and current Prime minister of Pakistan and the vice-chairman of the democratic socialist party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Gillani was nominated for the office of prime minister and became prime minister when his party formed the coalition government with Pakistan Muslim League, Awami National Party, Assembly of Islamic Clergy and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), after his party secured a considerable victory on 2008 parliamentary elections. He is the first prime minister from the Saraiki-speaking belt, and also the longest serving prime minister with a period span of 45 months, chairing more than 100 cabinet and parliamentary sessions; the most any successive democratic government in the history of the country.

He first successfully contested 1988 parliamentary elections and has been a senior member of parliament for the Multan-IV constituency since 1988, heading the Ministry of Tourism under the government of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. After his party wining the plurality in 1990 parliamentary elections, Gillani was nominated by Benazir Bhutto to become the 15th Speaker of the National Assembly, serving until 16 February 1997. On 11 February 2001, Gillani was imprisoned by military court instituted under by then-CMLA and President Pervez Musharraf on the accusations and charges on corruption in infamous Adiala Jail, and released on 7 October 2006.

Gillani's Pakistan Peoples Party won a considerable victory in the 2008 parliamentary elections, and with the consent of coalition government, Gillani was nominated for the office of Prime minister, taking the oath from President Pervez Musharraf on 25 March 2008. In a first inaugural session, Gillani announced the formation of the Truth and reconciliation commission, reducing the federal budget deficits, reconstruction of the troubled tribal belt, education, land, and agriculture reforms, and lifting the bans on elected labor and students' unions, followed by new energy and nuclear policy to reduce the level of the loadshedding in the country. In 2009, Gillani was ranked as the 38th most powerful person in the world by Forbes.

Origin and Descendents

Gillani is of Iranian descent and his father was a descendant of Syed Musa Pak, a spiritual figure of the Qadiri Sufism order which traces its origins to Abdul-Qadir Gilani of Iran. Yousaf Raza's paternal grandfather comes from Paktia Province, Afghanistan, but settled in Iran after marring an Iranian woman. His family moved to Multan in 1921 and his father Alamdar Hussain Gilani was a leading politician of Multan who played a significant role in Pakistan Movement. Hussain Gilani was one of the signatories of the Pakistan Resolution in 1940, and served as the leading activist of the Pakistan Movement. In 1953, Alamdar Hussain Gilani was a provisional minister in Feroz Khan Noon, and was also a cabinet minister after Feroz Khan Noon was appointed as Prime minister in 1958.

Family and education

Gillani was born on 9 June 1952 in Karachi, Sindh Province, West-Pakistan. Shortly, Gillani moved to Multan, Punjab Province, attending the Forman Christian College University. He attended Government College and obtained his B.A in Journalism, and followed by M.A. in Political Journalism from University of the Punjab.

Gillani is married and has four sons, one daughter, and one grandson. His eldest son, Syed Makhdoom Abdul Qadir Gillani, started his own political career from Multan, and in 2008 he married the granddaughter of Pir Pagara Shah Mardan Shah II, an influential political and religious leader of Sindh. His three other sons Ali Qasim Gillani, Ali Musa Gillani and Ali Haider Gillani are triplets. Qasim Gillani is currently doing his undergraduate from Brunel University London whereas Musa Gillani completed his Masters from Queen Mary University of London in 2009. Ali Haider Gillani is studying at Lahore School of Economics, Lahore. Ali Musa Gillani after completing his studies is now actively participating in politics. Yousaf Raza Gillani's daughter's name is Fiza Gillani.

Public servant

Gillani's political career took off during General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law in 1978, first joining the Central Working Committee of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), alongside with Nawaz Sharif. But soon left the PLM, due to political differences.

He was elected Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from Lodhran first time the seat now hold Saddique Baloch NA 154. He was also a cabinet member in the three-year government of Gillani joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1988 due to differences with Nawaz Sharif. Benazir Bhutto played a vital role in Gillani's political philosophy and was a government minister in the Benazir Bhutto government of 1988–1990; he was again elected MNA from other seat NA 152 now hold by Nawab liaqat ali, and he was Minister of Tourism from March 1989 to January 1990 and Minister of Housing and Works from January 1990 to August 1990. Later, under another Bhutto government, he became Speaker of the National Assembly in October.

Imprisonment

Inaugurating a Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited Zonal Office at Muzzafarabad

Yousaf Raza Gillani was arrested on 11 February 2001, under the auspices of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), an anti-corruption agency, set up by the military government in 1999, over charges that he misused his authority while he was Speaker of the National Assembly. Specifically, he was accused of hiring up to 600 people from among his constituents and placing them on the government's payroll. The NAB claimed that Gillani inflicted a loss of Rs 30 million annually on the national exchequer. He was convicted by an anti-corruption court formed by Musharraf and spent nearly six years in prison.

The legal proceedings were perceived by many as politically motivated; his party, the PPP, was in opposition to Musharraf, who had embarked on a campaign to coerce party members to switch sides. Thus his conviction by Musharraf-backed courts and subsequent prison sentence are seen as marks of loyalty within the PPP. His imprisonment was widely condemned by various individuals across the country, including Mushahid Hussain Syed, a senior leader of the PML-Q. He was released on 7 October 2006 from Adiala Jail, after spending more than five years in captivity.

Prime Ministership

On 22 March 2008, the PPP nominated Gillani for the post of Prime Minister. PPP completed consultations with coalition partners about the Prime Minister and its allies endorsed the nomination. The formal announcement of the name of Prime Minister was expected to be made that night.

On 22 March at 9:38 pm Islamabad, (1638 GMT), he was officially announced by PPP as its candidate for the premiership of the country.

Many analysts said that they would not be surprised if Zardari succeeded Gillani after a few months. It was reported on 24 March 2008, that Zardari said he was not interested in the job of Prime Minister and that Gillani would serve until 2013 in the position. Speculation that Zardari might be gunning for the premiership grew stronger when he picked the less popular Gillani over Ameen Faheem, President of the PPP. Fahmida Mirza, the newly-elected Speaker of the Assembly, insists there is no plan to replace Gillani. She added, however, that if Gillani did not do a good job, all options were open.

File:PM Yousaf Raza Gillani with Abdul Qadir Patel.jpg

Gillani with MNA Qadir Patel

On 24 March 2008, Gillani was elected as Prime Minister by Parliament, defeating his rival, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q, by a score of 264 to 42. He was sworn in by Musharraf on the next day. On 29 March, he won a unanimous vote of confidence in Parliament.

Gillani with Hillary Clinton

On the same day, following the vote of confidence, Gillani announced the programme for the first 100 days of his administration. Some of the points he announced were:

• Frontier Crimes Regulations and Industrial Relations Order repealed

• A “truth and reconciliation commission” proposed

• PM House budget cut by 40 percent

• Special counters at airports for parliamentarians to be removed

• No money to be spent on the renovation of government buildings and residences

• A freedom of information law to be framed, while PEMRA will be made a subsidiary of the information ministry

• Talks will be initiated with extremists who lay down arms and ‘adopt the path of peace’

• A new package for tribal areas promised

• Employment commission to be set up

• Madressah authority to implement a uniform curriculum

• One million housing units to be built annually for low-income groups

• Irrigation channels to be bricklined.

• Appointed Prof. Ghulam Hussain Saleem and Wazir Ibadat adviser to the Prime Minister for Gilgit Baltistan Affairs.

• A lifting of the bans on elected labor and students' unions.

The first part of Gillani's Cabinet was sworn in on 31 March. Of the 24 ministers sworn in on this occasion, 11 were members of the PPP, nine were members of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), two were members of the Awami National Party, one was from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and one came from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Other appointments were expected to follow.

On 13 May 2008, the PML (N) ministers resigned from Gillani's government due to a disagreement related to the reinstatement of judges whom Musharraf removed from office in 2007. Zardari, hoping to preserve the coalition, told Gillani to reject the resignations.

At the close of 2008, Pakistan's The Financial Daily conducted a public poll on its website; respondents entered the names of their favorite personalities for the year, and Gillani was named among the top 50.

In April 2010 he announced the Pakistan national energy policy to deal with the severe electricity shortage facing Pakistan.

First public speech as Prime Minister

Gillani during his visit to the White House in 2008.

On 19 July 2008 at 11:06 pm (Pakistan Standard Time), Gillani appeared on Pakistan Television (PTV) in his first address to the nation. The main points in his address were focused on the crisis of flour shortage, load-shedding, terrorism and extremism, restoration of judges, economic downslide and, above all, inflation and unemployment in the country.

2008 assassination attempt

Gillani escaped an assassination attempt on 3 September 2008, when unidentified gunmen fired shots at his motorcade near the garrison city of Rawalpindi, officials said. The shooting occurred shortly after Gillani was returning from an official visit to the eastern city of Lahore. His motorcade was going to Islamabad from the high-security Chaklala military airbase in Rawalpindi. A spokesman for the Prime Minister's House said Gillani and members of his staff had escaped unhurt and were safe.He said police had been put on high alert and an investigation launched into the incident. The unidentified assailants fired at Gillani's motorcade on a highway. At least two shots hit the Prime Minister's bulletproof vehicle, TV channels quoted officials as saying. State-run PTV beamed footage of the damage caused by the bullets to the window of the driver's door of the vehicle. Reports said the incident occurred at a spot where former premier and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's motorcade was fired at on 27 December last year, shortly before Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide bombing in Rawalpindi.

According to Gillani's press secretary, Zahid Bashir, a car carrying Gillani was hit by 10 bullets in an attack near Islamabad on 3 September 2008; Bashir said that Gillani was unharmed. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Gillani's Role in Chief Justice restoration

During the political crisis of March 2009, Gillani is credited with playing a central role in convincing President Asif Ali Zardari to restore Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. This, according to some analysts, has strengthened his role as Prime Minister.

First Visit to Afghanistan

Since assuming office of the premier, Gillani was planning to visit neighboring Afghanistan, but some unresolved issues like absence of a joint platform to discuss bilateral issues, border conflicts, and different views on the war on terror prevented the trip. Gillani visited Afghanistan with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and ISI Director-General Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. After successful dialogue, it was mutually decided to form a Reconciliation Committee headed by foreign ministers of both the countries.

On 22 December 2011, Gillani told an audience at the National Gallery that conspirators were plotting to bring down his government.

The Memo Gate Scandal and subsequent conflicts

Gillani and Obama (2012).

On 10 October 2011, US-based businessman Mansoor Ijaz wrote in an opinion piece in The Financial Times that he acted as an intermediary between the Pakistani Government and US administration, with the former requesting the help of the latter to avert a military coup in wake of the unilateral US raid that killed Osama bin Laden. He said that a senior Pakistani diplomat telephoned him with an urgent request early on 9 May, exactly a week after the raid against bin Laden.

Though the Pakistani Government subsequently rejected his claims, it triggered a storm in the country's political circles, especially between the civil government and the military. A judicial commission was subsequently appointed to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's request to the apex court for an independent probe into the matter was accepted. The court rejected the government’s contention that the issue should be investigated by a parliamentary panel.

Tensions between the government and the military reached a peak after Gillani said the army and intelligence chiefs had acted in an “unconstitutional and illegal” manner by filing affidavits on the memo issue in the Supreme Court without getting the government’s approval. The military reacted within days through a strongly worded statement that said the premier’s remarks could have “grievous consequences”.

Gillani retaliated by sacking Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Naeem Lodhi, a confidant of Kayani. He reiterated that the Defence Secretary was removed in accordance with the law as he had made a mistake by not following the government’s rules. He maintained that he was only answerable to the Parliament.

Petition filed in Lahore High Court for disqualification

On 29th March, 2012 Lahore High Court heard a petition for hearing seeking Yousaf Raza Gillani's disqualification. The plea was filed in the High Court in which the petitioner took the stance that spouse of Gilani received loans of millions of rupees from Agriculture Development Bank and National Bank and did not pay them back. The petitioner submitted that if a person's spouse is defaulter of bank loan then he is disqualified to be elected as Member of National Assembly. The petitioner further submitted that subsequently after being elected as Prime Minister the aforesaid loans were written off. Petitioner pointed out that apart from that in the Statement of Assets & Liabilities as on 30-06-2007 investment in shares by her Spouse, ownership of inherited assets and house in DHA, Lahore have not been declared. The court after hearing the petitioner has asked the Deputy Attorney General to assist the Court on next hearing date 11-04-2012 [2]

See also

• Cabinet of Yousaf Raza Gillani
• Pakistan Peoples Party

External links

• Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani official Pakistan government site
• Yousaf Raza Gilani – a profile, Daily Times, 23 March 2008
• Profile: Yousuf Raza Gilani, Syed Shoaib Hasan, BBC News, 17 June 2009
• Profile at PakistaniLeaders.com
• Website devoted to Yousuf Raza Gilani
• Poem on Yusuf Raza Gilani
• Poem on Yusuf Raza Gilani And Parvaiz Musharraf on YouTube
• Musa Gillani Wedding
• 16 March 2009 Mp3 and text of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s Address To The Nation