Jamaat-e-Islami, once again challenging the hereditary power politics system of the political parties in Pakistan, has elected its new Emir (president) Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman.
The JI intra party election has surpassed all by rejecting the continuing culture of family centered politics, one-man show or installing dummies without power.
The JI has recently elected Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman as its sixth president since this party was founded in 1941. Hafiz Naeem has followed Maulana Maududi, Mian Tufail Muhammad, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Munawar Hassan and a last two consecutive term (2013-2024) Ameer (Emir) of this party Sirajul Haq.
Hafiz Naeem by profession is an engineer and will remain on top post of this party till the next election in 2029. Currently working as Emir of JI Karachi, he entered national politics from the platform of student union politics where he served as elected president (Nazim-e-Aala) of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) during two consecutive terms.
Another interesting aspect of his politics is his professional honesty and credibility. Very recently he has relinquished his provincial assembly seat (PS-129) from Karachi after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified his victory in recently held general elections 2024. Instead of taking oath he left his seat stating that it was the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supported candidate Saif Bari who won on PS-129, not him. Isn’t it a food for thought for all making hue and cry over election results and even for ECP?
However when it comes to point upholding democracy within party structures, all parties except the JI are found as personality oriented, family oriented or just the face changers when required. The JI originally established in 1941. Since its inception none of its leader ever attempted or lobbied for to elect his own son or other family member to capture the party’s top office.
The JI is well organized and disciplined political party comprised dedicated and educated members. It holds party elections with regular intervals. Has anyone ever heard a leader of this party claiming that injustice was made to him in party elections or has left the party over internal rifts?
Even its presidents were elected for consecutive terms, but none of the losers ever complained against the elected one. None of them ever showed distrust over the party or its decisions during the term of any of its presidents. Isn’t really something to be acknowledged and followed to foster a positive political culture?
The JI is an Islamic ideology based political party and it strongly believes in democracy. It took part in each electoral process of the country right dating back from General Ayub’s regime when it voted for Madre Millat Fatima Jinah. Secondly the foundation of this party is not something which could be declared as defection of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Interestingly none of its office bearers was ever found holding press conference against the party’s leadership, despite its constitution grants to each member a right for criticism and accountability of the party.
However as far the other main stream political parties of the country are concerned in this regard, their status looks questionable. Their leadership is hereditary or they are just the face changers. Their actual power remains within the hands of their heads. Following the personality-based politics almost each major party of the country including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could be put into a question.
The PTI -movement for justice – was established in 1996 by Imran Khan. Mr. Khan since the inception of its party is the real power holders, though, after more than three decades a face was changed in the form of Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as chairman of the party but what level this new chairman is empowered is known to all.
Even this party got deprived of its election symbol in general election of 2024 as it remained failed in holding party elections as prescribed by the ECP. How dozens of its office bearers held press conference over the party’s democracy in its ranks loudly speaks to what level this party is personality based. An overall democratic attitude of this party also stands in question especially when lastly came into power in 2018.
Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), a major and ruling party of the country can be found in gray areas. In September 2020 this party joining hands with opposition parties form an alliance – Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) to topple Imran Khan’s government. In April 2022, this PDM successfully moved a no-confidence motion against Imran, leading to his ouster from the top executive office.
This party is also famous for its personality-based power system as its actual power always remained in the hand of formerly three times Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif –no matter who is the president. The power transfer of this party most of the time since its inception remained within Sharif family despite some other presidents in the past like Javed Hashmi, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Sardar Yaqoob Nasar.
Mr. Nawaz served as president of this party for three terms – 1993–1999 -2011–2017 and 2017–2018 when he was ousted of his office of the Prime Minister and went to London. His wife (late) Kulsoom Nawaz was president of this party from 1999 to 2001.
Nawaz’s brother now also the second time Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was president of this party in 2018 till now. Earlier Mr. Shehbaz was elected for this party position from 2009 to 2010. The current Chief Minister of Punjab is daughter of Mr. Nawaz and is serving as the central vice president of her party. Interestingly the Pakistan Peoples’ Party Parliamentarian stands with no exceptions as its leadership and power always remained in hands of Buhtto family.
(Senior journalist Rana Kashif has authored this opinion)
