Hamid Raza Gilani
Encyclopedia
Syed Hamid Raza Gilani, in keeping with his family's tradition, received his early education at Aitchison College
, Lahore
, Pakistan
. Later he studied in England and was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn. He also studied at Oxford. Mr. Gilani's political career began in 1962 when he was elected unopposed from Multan
to the National Assembly of Pakistan during the government of President Ayub Khan. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. During this time he became a close friend of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Mr. Gilani lost the election in 1970, joined the Pakistan Peoples Party
, and was appointed Pakistan's ambassador to Kenya
, where he served from 1971 to 1975.
Upon returning to Pakistan in 1975 he contested elections on a PPP ticket and was elected to the National Assembly yet again. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was Prime Minister at the time, appointed him to his cabinet as Minister for Industries.
During President Zia ul-Haq's regime, Mr. Gilani's group won the local bodies elections in Multan with an overwhelming majority. He was elected to the National Assembly in the non-party polls in 1985. Later he served as a Senator from 1990 to 1997.
Mr. Gilani played a major role in Anjuman Islamia, an organization responsible for establishing over 24 schools and colleges in Multan. He also served as the chairman of the board of governors of Nishtar Medical College & Hospital, Multan.
His father Makhdoom Syed Muhammad Raza Gilani also studied at Aitchison College where he received the much coveted Rivaz Gold Medal. He too was a politian and is best remembered for defeating Penderel Moon (later Sir Penderel Moon), the British Raj's candidate in the local elections. He was chairman of Multan District Council for many years.
Mr. Gilani's nephew, Yusuf Raza Gilani, is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Aitchison College
Aitchison College, Lahore, is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of its kind in South Asia. Established in 1886, it has retained its character over the years, maintaining the public school tradition of providing an education that uses academics, sports and co-curricular activities...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Later he studied in England and was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn. He also studied at Oxford. Mr. Gilani's political career began in 1962 when he was elected unopposed from Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
to the National Assembly of Pakistan during the government of President Ayub Khan. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. During this time he became a close friend of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Mr. Gilani lost the election in 1970, joined the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, and was appointed Pakistan's ambassador to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, where he served from 1971 to 1975.
Upon returning to Pakistan in 1975 he contested elections on a PPP ticket and was elected to the National Assembly yet again. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was Prime Minister at the time, appointed him to his cabinet as Minister for Industries.
During President Zia ul-Haq's regime, Mr. Gilani's group won the local bodies elections in Multan with an overwhelming majority. He was elected to the National Assembly in the non-party polls in 1985. Later he served as a Senator from 1990 to 1997.
Mr. Gilani played a major role in Anjuman Islamia, an organization responsible for establishing over 24 schools and colleges in Multan. He also served as the chairman of the board of governors of Nishtar Medical College & Hospital, Multan.
His father Makhdoom Syed Muhammad Raza Gilani also studied at Aitchison College where he received the much coveted Rivaz Gold Medal. He too was a politian and is best remembered for defeating Penderel Moon (later Sir Penderel Moon), the British Raj's candidate in the local elections. He was chairman of Multan District Council for many years.
Mr. Gilani's nephew, Yusuf Raza Gilani, is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan.