Yousaf Raza Gillani

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Yousaf Raza Gilani
Nastaliq|یوسف رضا گیلانی

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order = Prime Minister of Pakistan
president = Pervez Musharraf
Muhammad Mian Soomro (Acting)
Asif Ali Zardari
term_start = 25 March 2008
predecessor = Muhammad Mian Soomro
order2 = Speaker of National Assembly
term_start2 = 17 October 1993
term_end2 = 16 February 1997
predecessor2 = Gohar Ayub Khan
successor2 = Elahi Bux Soomro
order3 = Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party
term_start3 = 1998
term_end3 =
alongside3 = Makhdoom Amin Fahim
predecessor3 =
spouse = Elahi Gilani [http://pakistaniat.com/2008/03/24/profile-yousuf-raza-gllani-pakistan/comment-page-1/]
birth_date = birth date and age|1952|6|9|df=y
birth_place = Karachi, Pakistan
party = PPP
residence = Multan, Pakistan
religion = Islam

Syed Makhdoom Yousaf Raza Gilani ( _ur. Nastaliq|مخدوم سیّد یوسف رضا گیلانی) (born June 9, 1952) is a Pakistani politician who is currently the twenty-sixth Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was previously Speaker of the National Assembly (1993-1997) and a Federal Minister (1985-1986, 1989-1990). Gilani is Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7309215.stm PPP names choice for Pakistani PM] "BBC News", March 22, 2008] He took the oath of office from President Pervez Musharraf on 25 March 2008. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/25/asia/pakistan.php "U.S. diplomats court new Pakistani leaders"] , "International Herald Tribune", March 25, 2008.] Gilani is the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan from the Saraiki-speaking belt. [ [http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=13645 'PML-Q faces defections in Seraiki belt'] "The News"]

Family and education

Gilani was born in Karachi. He belongs to an influential political family from Multan. His father was a descendant of Syed Musa Pak, a spiritual figure of the Qadiri Sufi order which traces its origins to Abdul-Qadir Gilani of Gilan province of Iran. Gilani is married and has four sons, one daughter, Fiza Gilani, and one grandson. [ [http://dawn.com/2008/03/23/top3.htm 'Would-be premier: a profile'] "Dawn", March 23, 2008] The eldest son of Yousaf Raza Gilani, Syed Makhdoom Abdul Qadir Gilani who also started his political career from Multan, married the granddaughter of Pir Pagara, an influential political figure of Sindh, on March 25, 2008.

Gilani's early education was at St. Mary's and La Salle High School in Multan. He graduated with a BA in 1970 and MA in Journalism from University of the Punjab in 1976. [Adnan Lodhi. [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008