Career
On 27 March 2004, following a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Federal Territory and Klang Valley Planning and Development Division was upgraded to a full-fledged ministry. Its responsibility expanded to include jurisdiction over the territories of Labuan and Putrajaya. Zulhasnan was the first deputy minister to be appointed to the ministry.
Tan Sri Isa bin Hj Abdul Samad was the first minister to be appointed.
However, Isa was dismissed from office after found guilty of corruption charges related to money politics during the UMNO General Assembly Election of 2005. Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (then the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development) assumed the responsibilities of acting minister until a replacement could be foundation
On 16 February 2006, Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique was appointed the Federal Territories Minister. Under the leadership of Zulhasnan, a strategic plan that focused on development plans for all three Federal Territories was created.
He was dropped from the new cabinet on 9 April 2009 by Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who took over as the 6th Prime Minister.
He was not chosen by Barisan Nasional to recontest the Setiawangsa seat in the 2013 election. He joined the Royal Malaysian Air Force as a fighter pilot and retired in 1985 with the rank of major before enter politics.