Brief biography of Yousaf Raza Gilani

The 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani's real name is Miran Mustafa alias Yousaf. This name was selected by his maternal grand father, Makhdoom Ghulam Miran Shah when he born on June 9, 1952 at 314 Lawrence Road, Karachi. His father Syed Alamdar Hussain Gilani wanted to make him a doctor but he could not get admission in medical college due to non-achievement of merit.
His forefathers hailed from Syria to then India's Uch Sharif (now in Bahawalpur district) in 1456 AD (877 AH) .He got his basic education from St. Mary's Convent School, Multan, then from La Salle High School, Multan (A christian missionary school). He got an award of most successful candidate of the institution. His roll number was 228. He played a role of merchant in a drama "Merchant of Venice" in the school. His extra curricular activities were paintings, cricket, football, basketball, athletics, rugby and to take part in declamations and plays. Yousaf Raza's father born on December 12,1899 in Multan.
He was inducted in the cabinet of Feroz Khan Noon in 1953 as Minister for Health and Local Bodies. His parliamentary secretary was Chaudhry Fazal Elahi who later became a president of Pakistan. He did his graduation from Government College Lahore and MA Journalism from Punjab University, Lahore. Professor Waris Mir (Columnist), Miskeen Ali Hajjazi, Farooq Nisar and Dr Abdus Salam Khurshid were among his teachers. Yousaf Raza Gilani wrote a book on his life " Chah-i-Yousaf say Sada" (A voice from well of Yousaf)
Earlier, his great grandfather Syed Sadruddin Shah's brother Syed Rajan Bux Shah was the first Gilani to be elected to Indian Legislative Council in 1921. He remained its member till his death in 1936. Gilanis joined the All India Muslim League in 1940s. Rajan's nephew Syed Muhammad Raza Shah defeated Unionist Party candidate and PPP's another contender for premiership Shah Mahmood Qureshi's grandfather Makhdum Murid Hussain Qureshi in 1946 elections. Raza Shah was the only non-official president of the Multan district board before partition, defeating British Deputy Commissioner EP Moon in the elections. He was brother of Yousaf Raza's grandfather Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah.
Raza's son Hamid Raza Gilani won national assembly seats in 1962, 1965, 1977 and 1985. He served as parliamentary secretary in 1960s and as a federal minister in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's 1977 cabinet. He was elected to Senate of Pakistan in 1991. Mustafa Shah's son and Yousaf's father Makhdum Alamdar Gilani was elected to Punjab Assembly in 1951 along with his brother Syed Walayat Hussain Shah. Alamdar Gilani was elevated to provincial health minister in 1953. He joined newly born Republican Party in 1956 and was disqualified by Ayub government from electoral politics. His brother and Yousaf's uncle Rehmat Shah filled the vacuum by joining Ayub's Conventional Muslim League and winning a provincial seat along with Hamid Raza who kept on leading the family on the electoral scene till the time Yousaf ousted him in 1990. Another cousin of Yousaf Raza Gilani, Syed Tanvirul Hasan Gilani, also won a national seat in 1990 but from the platform of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI).
Yousaf is also closely knit in the network of feudal-cum-Makhdum politicians of Pakistan. Himself being descendent of Moosa Pak Shaheed, a great saint of Multan, Yousaf's mother was a sister of Makhdum Hasan Mahmood of Jamaldinwali, Rahimyar Khan. Makhdum Hasan's other sister was married to Pir Pagaro. Some shrewd observers believe that Pir Pagara's statement in favour of Makhdum Amin Faheem's premiership was a successful attempt to discredit him and pave the way for his nephew's elevation. Yousaf's first maternal cousin Makhdum Ahmad Mahmood is provincial president of Pir Pagara's Functional League. Ahmad Mahmood's sister is married to President Musharraf's former loyalist Jehangir Tareen.