Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Convicted Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was declared disqualified for public office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday, SAMAA reports.

Here is a look at ups and downs in his political life.

Gilani, the longest serving elected prime minister of the country in its 64 years history, was born on 9 June 1952 in Karachi but his family hails from the Punjab.

The Gillanis are among the most prominent of landowners and spiritual leaders in the south of the province. Their home town is the ancient Punjabi city of Multan.

Gilani did his M.A Journalism from University of Punjab in 1976.

He started his political career in 1978 after the death of father Makhdoom Alamdar Hussain Gilani, who was a signatory to the Pakistan Resolution.

Mr Gilani was the first elected chairman of the District Council, Multan. He defeated the local government minister Syed Fakhar Imam in 1983.

He took part in nonparty-basis elections held during Ziaul Haq ear in 1985 and was elected MNA. He later joined PM Muhammad Khan Junejo’s cabinet as Housing and Construction minister and Railway minister.

In 1988 elections, he defeated the then Punjab chief minister Nawaz Sharif on PPP ticket, and joined Benazir’s cabinet as housing minister and minister for tourism.

In 1990, again on a PPP ticket, he was elected an MNA after defeating Makhdoom Hamid Raza Gilani, a former federal minister.

In 1993, he defeated Malik Sikander Hayat Bosan and later became Speaker of the National Assembly, till 1996.

Gilani contested the election in 1997 on a PPP ticket and lost the party did not win a single seat in Punjab.

He could not contest elections in 2002 due to his 6-year jail term.

In 2008 he defeated PML-Q’s Sikander Hayat Bosan.

He was sent to jail by Gen. Musharraf in 2001, serving five years following a conviction over illegal government appointments.

He was finally released on 7 October 2006 from Adiala Jail, after spending more than five years in prison.

While in jail wrote a book Chah-e-Yusuf ki Sada (Reflections from Yusuf’s Well) while in jail.

Though he was said to be longest serving PM in country’s 64 year history, Gilani finally lost this honor following the court decision in contempt case. -- SAMAA