Yousaf Raza Gillani was born in Karachi on June 9, 1952. He is a graduate of Government College, Lahore, and also did M A in Journalism from the Punjab University in 1976. He entered politics and was chosen as Member of central executive committee of the Muslim League in 1978.
He was also Member of Federal Council in 1982, and was elected Chairman, Zila Council, Multan, in 1983. He was elected MNA as an independent candidate in 1985 from Lodhran Constituency and was appointed federal Minister for Works. In 1986, he became Railways Minister. In 1988, he was elected as MNA from Multan and accepted the post of Tourism Minister.
Thus he has been elected MNA for five terms, 1985, 1988, 1990 and 1993. In 1993, Benazir Bhutto chose him as Speaker, National Assembly, when he was elected with 106 votes. His opponent received 90 votes. Gillani is a globetrotter having travelled to nearly all six continents. He has represented Pakistan in numerous international seminars and conferences, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Bretton Woods institution. He represented Pakistan in the celebration of the 5oth anniversary in the United Nations Hall at a conference arranged by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
He is the son of Alamdar Raza Gillani, and traces his lineage to Hazrat Imam Hassan and Hazrat Imam Hussain (may God be pleased be with them). His father is included among those who signed the historic Pakistan Resolution at Lahore in March, 1940.