Daily Times

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is known as hierarchical Islamic party and it is not just a political party but kind of a religious community which asks its supporters to obey the sovereign rules of Allah.  It is the only Islamic party of Pakistan which has programmatic objectives that came directly from Syed Maududi – the man who erected JI and was the founder of its ideology. He always believed in influencing areas of power where there can be a top down approach. But for success of its own movement, the party believed in bottom up approach too. This shows that the party believes they cannot have full-fledged political control on institutions so even if they have to have to suppor someone who violates constitution, they will do it.

The JI is one of the oldest and most institutionalised party, but it has failed to garner political support despite always being in the mainstream in non-democratic periods. In 1988, it won 11 seats after end of Zia’s dictatorship in Pakistan. It was then that the party enjoyed maximum power and political incentives. In 1990, it got 11 seats. In 1993, the party managed to bad 3 seats, while in 1997 it got 5 seats. In 2002, the JI went in alliance with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) along with other parties and secured 50 seats when General Musharraf was in power and election engineering was seen. In 2008, JI boycotted elections but in 2013 it only won 3 seats despite going for elections after 11 years.

Ironically, more than 80 percent of people in Pakistan want Shariah, but they do not vote Islamic parties into power. JI is struggling to survive under Sirajul Huq as it is losing electoral value while trying to maintain its mass movement.

The Jamaat had another hard time surviving when its former chief Munawar Hassan who was elected after Qazi Hussain Ahmed and was de-seated after first term. This was never witnessed before in the history of JI. Munawar introduced combative style of politics and issued controversial statements like declaring former TTP head Hakeemullah Mehsood a martyr.

The JI is one of the oldest and most institutionalised party, but it has always failed to garner political support despite being in the mainstream in non-democratic periods

Although JI did not own his statement, they had to face severe backlash and Munawar could not win stewardship of party again. He had also justified the assassination of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer by saying he was responsible for his own death.  But with the arrival of a comparatively moderate head Siraj Ul Haq, the is now trying to regain its lost status. However, Siraj also attended the funeral of assassin of Taseer, which created confusion on his stance on extremism.

JI has always stressed on the need for eliminating corruption and it is one of the main agendas of the party. Since its members are not like members of traditional political parties and come from mediocre background, they rarely change loyalties.

JI is party to the Panama Leaks case along with Imran khan and Sheikh Rasheed, but it has failed to grab media attention. The JI has active social media wing at all levels but mainstream media gives them less airtime as ratings are higher for Imran Khan and Sheikh Rasheed. Siraj Ul Haq is an old school politician and he will have to think seriously how he can survive in media as their political leadership is not like traditional politicians and can’t spend millions to be active on media.

Jamaat believes in evolutionary process so believes in power of democratic institutions and strengthening democracy. But the party did not like PPP move in Sindh assembly to pass the bill on forced conversion. Bill was that no one can convert to Islam even with his own will under 18 but on hue and cry of JI that bill contradicts ideology of Pakistan. Co- Chairman of PPP Asif Zardari assured Siarj-ul-Haq that bill will be revisited. JI considers it a great success but PPP understands that right wing political forces must be accommodated as PPP has seen wrath of right wing when their beloved leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated and PPP could not contest the 2013 elections openly due to threats from terrorist organisations. Although JI has nothing to do with terrorist organisations directly, but there is fear within the PPP that terrorists’ sympathisers can launch a campaign which can damage political ambitions of the party.

One of the daunting challenges JI is facing is de –intellectualisation of party. There is no one in the party who can match Maulana Maududi’s stature. All who have joined and holding offices of JI have little credentials of being to the level where they could be followed blindly. There needs to be some debate in party to modernise and make it relevant to incumbent political discourse. Relying on traditional voters and supporters is not enough if the party wants a positive contribution in the country.

Qamar Cheema is strategic and political analyst and teaches International Politics at NUML Islamabad . He tweets at @Qamarcheema

Published in Daily Times, July 21^st, 2017.