Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, the 21st Prime Minister of Pakistan, was born on January 1, 1944, at Dera Murad Jamali in Baluchistan. After getting his primary education in Baluchistan, he went to Lawrence College, Murree, for his O-levels. He did his A-levels from Aitchison College and graduation from Government College Lahore. He obtained his Masters Degree in History from Government College, Lahore.

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali began his political career as a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, which he joined in the 1970's. He was elected member of the Baluchistan Provincial Assembly in 1977 and served as Minister of Food, Information and Parliamentary Affairs in the Baluchistan Cabinet. He also served in the national Cabinet of General Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980's, where he first served as the Provincial Minister for Information, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and later as Minister of State for Local Government.

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was one of the contenders for premiership after the 1985 elections. Other contenders for the seat of Prime Minister were Muhammad Khan Junejo and Ilahi Bux Soomro. It was, however, Junejo who was selected from among the three by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Jamali served as Minister for Water and Power in the Government of Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. He also served once as caretaker Chief Minister and thrice as the Chief Minister of Balochistan, most recently in 1996.