Yousuf Ayub was born in the village of Rehana in Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

He then contested the 1993 general elections and won as an independent candidate, but later joined PML N, and was given the portfolio for the education ministry, in Chief Minister Pir Sabir Shah's cabinet until his government was replaced.

He again won the 1997 general elections on PML(N) ticket, and later was inducted into the new cabinet of then-Chief Minister Sardar Mehtab Abbasi from 21 February 1997 to 12 October 1999, until martial law took place, with eight to nine portfolios.

He again contested for provincial assembly in the 2002 general elections on PML N ticket but was unsuccessful this time during Musharraf's regime and anti-PML(N) pressure.

After joining PTI in 2011, he contested provincial election on the PTI ticket, and was successful this time, and later was inducted into the provincial cabinet of Pervez Khattak and was given a portfolio for C&W, until he was de-seated from his constituency, petition done against him by his rivals, and was disqualified over fake degree, the bachelor's degree wasn't fully valid.