Sardar Muhammad Yousuf
{{short description|Pakistani politician}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix =
| name = Sardar Muhammad Yousuf Gujjar
| office = Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony
| term_start = 7 March 2025
| primeminister = Shehbaz Sharif
| predecessor = Chaudhry Salik Hussain
| president = Asif Ali Zardari
| term_start1 = 4 August 2017
| term_end1 = 31 May 2018
| president1 = Mamnoon Hussain
| primeminister1 = Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
| predecessor1 = Himself
| successor1 =
| term_start2 = 8 June 2013
| term_end2 = 28 July 2017
| predecessor2 = Shazada Muhammad Saleem
| successor2 = Himself
| president2 = Mamnoon Hussain
| primeminister2 = Nawaz Sharif
| office3 = Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
| term_start3 = 29 February 2024
| term_end3 =
| constituency3 = NA-14 Mansehra
| term_start4 = 1 June 2013
| term_end4 = 31 May 2018
| constituency4 = NA-20 (Mansehra-I)
| party = PMLN (1993-present)
| children = Sardar Shahjahan Yousuf{{cite news|title=PML-N striving to regain strength in Hazara|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/797797|access-date=18 November 2016|work=DAWN.COM|date=25 March 2013|ref=dawn/25march2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119061458/http://www.dawn.com/news/797797|archive-date=19 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}
| native_name = {{nq|سردارمحمدیوسف گجر}}
| office5 = Member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
| term_start5 = 3 November 1990
| term_end5 = 12 October 1999
| constituency5 = NA-14 (Mansehra-I)
| term_start6 = 13 August 2018
| term_end6 = 18 January 2023
| constituency6 = PK-33 (Mansehra-IV)
}}
Sardar Muhammad Yousuf Gujjar ({{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|سردار محمد یوسف گجر}}}}) became the minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, in the Abbasi cabinet from August 2017 to May 2018. A leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Sardar Muhammad Yousuf had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan when he had an alliance with Shahzada Muhammad Gushtasip khankhel which he then broke from 1990 to 1999 and again from June 2013 to May 2018. He previously served as Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in the third Sharif ministry from 2013 to 2017. He also served as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from August 2018 to January 2023.
Political career
Yousuf was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the first time in the 1985 Pakistani general election.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
His father was a tenant of the Khans of Battal. Later he adopted the title of Sardar and joined politics.
He ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an independent candidate from Constituency PF-45 (Mansehra-IV) in the 1988 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 9,811 votes and lost the seat to an independent candidate, Faiz Muhammad Khan.{{cite web|title=NWFP election result 1988-97|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/Results%201988%20-%201997/NWFP.pdf|publisher=ECP|access-date=23 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211074407/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/Results%201988%20-%201997/NWFP.pdf|archive-date=11 February 2018|df=dmy-all}} In the same election, he ran for the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan from Constituency NA-16 (Mansehra-III) as a candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party but was unsuccessful.
He was re-elected to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an independent candidate from Constituency PF-45 (Mansehra-IV) in the 1990 Pakistani general election and defeated Faiz Muhammad Khan. In the same election, he was elected to the National Assembly{{cite news|title=Tough contest seen on Mansehra seats|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/57882|access-date=18 November 2016|work=DAWN.COM|date=19 September 2002|ref=dawn/19september2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119061117/http://www.dawn.com/news/57882|archive-date=19 November 2016|df=dmy-all}} as an independent candidate from Constituency NA-14 (Mansehra-I). He received 34,787 votes and defeated a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) (JUI-F).{{cite web|title=National Assembly election results 1988-97|url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/Results%201988%20-%201997/NA.pdf|publisher=ECP|access-date=23 February 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828225608/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/Results%201988%20-%201997/NA.pdf|archive-date=28 August 2017|df=dmy-all}} After winning he joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N).{{cite news|title=Electioneering: Hazara province movement leader rejoins PML-N - The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/515333/electioneering-hazara-province-movement-leader-rejoins-pml-n/|access-date=13 December 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=4 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213204131/https://tribune.com.pk/story/515333/electioneering-hazara-province-movement-leader-rejoins-pml-n/|archive-date=13 December 2017|df=dmy-all}}
He ran for the seat of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an independent candidate from Constituency PF-45 (Mansehra-IV) in 1993 Pakistani general election, but was unsuccessful. He received 486 votes and lost the seat to an independent candidate, Haq Nawaz Khan. In the same election, he was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-14 (Mansehra-I). He received 58,191 votes and defeated a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (J).
He was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-14 (Mansehra-I) in 1997 Pakistani general election.{{cite news|title=Differences surface in Mansehra PML-N|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/682031/differences-surface-in-mansehra-pml-n|access-date=18 November 2016|work=DAWN.COM|date=20 December 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119060826/http://www.dawn.com/news/682031/differences-surface-in-mansehra-pml-n|archive-date=19 November 2016|df=dmy-all}} He received 46,918 votes and defeated a candidate of JUI-F.
He served as District Nazim of Mansehra District.{{cite news|title=In Mansehra, tough battle expected among PML-N, PTI and JUI-F – The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/540992/in-mansehra-tough-battle-expected-among-pml-n-pti-and-jui-f/|access-date=12 October 2016|work=The Express Tribune|date=27 April 2013|ref=tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013072723/http://tribune.com.pk/story/540992/in-mansehra-tough-battle-expected-among-pml-n-pti-and-jui-f/|archive-date=13 October 2016|df=dmy-all}}
He left PML-N to join Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) after 1999 Pakistani coup d'état.
He could not run in the 2002 Pakistani general election and again in 2008 Pakistani general election because of the graduation degree bar.{{cite news|last1=Newspaper|first1=the|title=NEWS IN BRIEF|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/789840|access-date=13 December 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=2 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213214342/https://www.dawn.com/news/789840|archive-date=13 December 2017|df=dmy-all}}
In early 2013, he left PML-Q{{cite news|title=Constituency profile: For Mansehra seats, it's the mosque that matters – The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/538043/constituency-profile-for-mansehra-seats-its-the-mosque-that-matters/|access-date=12 October 2016|work=The Express Tribune|date=20 April 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321050700/http://tribune.com.pk/story/538043/constituency-profile-for-mansehra-seats-its-the-mosque-that-matters/|archive-date=21 March 2016|df=dmy-all}} to join the PML-N.
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency NA-20 (Mansehra-I) in the 2013 Pakistani general election.{{cite news|title=PML-N candidate wins NA-20 Mansehra seat – The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/548198/pml-n-candidate-wins-na-20-mansehra-seat/|access-date=18 November 2016|work=The Express Tribune|date=12 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119060519/http://tribune.com.pk/story/548198/pml-n-candidate-wins-na-20-mansehra-seat/|archive-date=19 November 2016|df=dmy-all}} Upon PML-N victory in the Pakistani general election, 2013, he was appointed Minister for Religious Affair and Interfaith Harmony in the third Sharif ministry.{{cite news|title=25-member cabinet takes oath|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/06/08/national/25-member-cabinet-takes-oath/|access-date=12 October 2016|publisher=Pakistan Today|date=8 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042724/http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/06/08/national/25-member-cabinet-takes-oath/|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}
He had ceased to hold ministerial office in July 2017 when the federal cabinet was disbanded following the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after Panama Papers case decision.{{cite news|title=PM Nawaz Sharif steps down; federal cabinet stands dissolved|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pm-nawaz-gives-up-his-post-federal-cabinet-stands-dissolved/|access-date=28 July 2017|work=Daily Pakistan Global|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728114411/https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pm-nawaz-gives-up-his-post-federal-cabinet-stands-dissolved/|archive-date=28 July 2017|df=dmy-all}} Following the election of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf was inducted into the federal cabinet of Abbasi and was appointed Minister for Religious Affairs for the second time.{{cite news|title=New cabinet takes oath: Khawaja Asif foreign minister, Ahsan Iqbal interior minister|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1349562/new-cabinet-takes-oath-khawaja-asif-foreign-minister-ahsan-iqbal-interior-minister|access-date=4 August 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=4 August 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804113543/https://www.dawn.com/news/1349562/new-cabinet-takes-oath-khawaja-asif-foreign-minister-ahsan-iqbal-interior-minister|archive-date=4 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|title=Pakistan Swears In New Federal Cabinet|url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/pakistan-swears-in-new-federal-cabinet/|access-date=4 August 2017|work=Newsweek Pakistan|date=4 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804174632/http://newsweekpakistan.com/pakistan-swears-in-new-federal-cabinet/|archive-date=4 August 2017|df=dmy-all}} Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on 31 May 2018, Yousuf ceased to hold the office as Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.{{cite web |title=Notification |url=http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |publisher=Cabinet division |access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601180526/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2018}}
He was re-elected to Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a candidate of PML-N from Constituency PK-34 (Mansehra-V) in the 2018 Pakistani general election.{{cite news |title=Pakistan election 2018 results: National and provincial assemblies |url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2018/07/live-pakistan-election-2018-results/ |access-date=3 September 2018 |work=Samaa TV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729083521/https://www.samaa.tv/news/2018/07/live-pakistan-election-2018-results/ |archive-date=2018-07-29 |url-status=live }}
References
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{{s-bef|before=Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony|years=2013—present}}
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{{Sharif III Cabinet}}
{{Abbasi Cabinet}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yousuf, Sardar Muhammad}}
Category:Mayors of places in Pakistan
Category:People from Mansehra District
Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018
Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) MPAs (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Pakistani MNAs 1990–1993
Category:Pakistani MNAs 1997–1999
Category:Pakistani MNAs 1993–1996
Category:Religious ministers of Pakistan
Category:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa MPAs 2018–2023