Qari Muhammad Yusuf

Muhammad Ilyas Khan

Age: 55 years

Candidate From: NA-22 (Battagram)

Party: Jamiat Ulema e Islam - Fazl ur Rahman
Muttahida Majlis e Amal

Address (Batagram):
Village & PO Shingli Bala, Battagram

Address (Islamabad):
A-001, Parliament Lodges, Islamabad

Qari Yusuf hails from Battagram's Shingli Bala village and contested his first election this October. Born into a humble family, he studied at various seminaries in Hazara and Mardan and received the Wifaqul Madaris Degree from Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak, in the early 70s. He has since taught at several seminaries in the Frontier and is currently the chief administrator at Darul Uloom Ishaatul Islam, Battagram. Yusuf played a somewhat low-key role in the local Sipah-e-Sahaba's campaign against NGOs but came to the fore after 9/11, spearheading the anti-US campaign in Battagram and organizing public meetings, processions and road blocks. He was never arrested.