JI’s new chief, new version

Jamat e islami(JI) is the first and only democratic politico-religious party of Pakistan. The members of JI (Arakeen) elect their chief (Ameer) after every five year through a secret ballot. The founding chief of JI was Syed Abul Aala Maudodi, second one was MianTufail Muhammad, the third one was Qazi Hussain Ahmad and the forth one was Syed Munawar Hassan. Munawwar for the first time in the history of JI remained only for one term and was not re-elected for a second term. Siraj ul Haq is the fifth newly elected Ameer of JI. The election commission of JI announced Sirajulhaq as a new chief on March 30, 2014 and he take oath on April 9, 2014.The oath taking ceremony for the first time held in open ground of JI head quarter in Mansoora Lahore. This is also a sign of change in JI. The young supporters of JI not only appreciated this event but also spread it through social media. Perhaps it may be due to popularity of new chief among the public as he serving as a senior minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) coalition government of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI). But it is also a fact that many members of JI are not satisfied with the appointment of Sirajulahaq because they think that the portfolio of JI chief require a high degree of knowledge, vision and strong power of decision. While the new chief, is low in confidence in this regard as parallel to their previous heads of Party.
The print media give more coverage to this transition of Power from Munawar Hassan to Siraj ul Haq as compared to electronic media in Pakistan. Many newspapers wrote editorial and a lot of columnists try to forecast consequences of this transition. Along with this members and followers of JI also show their concerns on social media about print media and say that some columnists do not portray the real image. Consequently on one side the media persons feel threaten from young activists and show their concerns over this reaction. While on the other hand exchange of comments and sometime of harsh words also take place among the supporters through social media about the personality and vision of their new elected chief.
In such situation I preferred not to write over the issue and about Sirajulhaq .Possibly it may be due to the high numbers of my friends belongs to JI. Although I am not the member of JI and so enjoyed the ongoing situation. Keenly observing social media, interpretation of literature of JI and sharing views with followers of JI from the last two tenures of Qazi Hussain Ahamd and one of Munawar Hassan make me attentive to the puzzling policies of today’s JI. In this regard few may be refer to for instance in the six party alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal(MMA) under Musharaf regime when Sirajulhaq was than senior minister of KPK and also chief of JI KPK chapter. The than central committee (Shura) of JI decided and ordered Sirajulhaq to quit one portfolio because according to shura the man having any responsible position in JI have no provision to keep a ministerial portfolio. In those days Sirjulhaq gave preference to party position and vacate the slot of senior minister which was further entertained by another member of JI, Shaharaz Khan from Malakand Agency. But today the some peoples say that when they (Sirajulhaq) became the central chief of JI it is better to evacuate the ministerial position but Sirajulahaq not doing so. Providing argument that, doing so is contempt of the voters who select him to solve their problem in the KPK. Now one has the right to ask that when in MMA you quit the ministerial position was it not the contempt of voters and then who was to solve the problem of voters.
Another strong argument with the opponents of Sirahulhaq is that he is supposed more close with establishment especially military as compare to Munawar Hussanin who issued many statements regarding military role in so called war on terror. Those statements make military establishment reactionary and therefor during a press conference by DG ISI (Director General Inter services Intelligience Agency) they demand JI to take resignation from Munawar Hassan. After the oath the meeting of Sirajulhaq with General(R) Hameedgul the former DG of ISI and after this with Hafiz saeed the chief Jamat ud dawa(JD) providing support to the arguments of opponents.
In the followers of JI the numbers of Sirjulhaq supporters is high so why he is elected a new chief. According to them he is a young energetic and very simple personality. Being a low category worker he work hard and reached to top chair. Because of Sirjaulhaq is honest and devoted to party. They hate protocol culture and have no bank balance like other ministers of government. The supporter also claims that the new chief is accepted among the public due their simple and corruption free life. Therefore they assumed that under the supervision of Sirjulhaq JI will be achieving the places in masses hearts. Although a very important question is that how the new chief will be victorious to bring out JI from a conventional circle.
According to a Ph.D. scholar in political science department university of Peshawar “Sirajulahq is the leader of those who want JI to be the popular party of country and win election. But JI is not only a political party it’s also a movement of physical and mental free masses to establish the system of Quran in the country”. Another activist of JI who leading a youth wing of JI provincially says that “we are unsatisfied from Sirajulhaq as a senior minister but now we support and obey him because he is our Ameer(chief)”.
The current decision of Sirajulhaq is became debating among their many follower in which he assured Imran Khan the chief of PTI that JI will be participate in the demonstration of 11th May 2014.The rally will be held to agitate against the rigging in the general election of 11th May 2013. After the publishing of Sirajulhaq statement in newspaper during a press briefing Prof. Ibrahim Khan (provincial chief of JI) said that Imran Khan did not take JI in confidence about launching protest against alleged rigging in the last general election in the country. “I don’t understand as to why Imran Khan took this decision. It doesn’t reflect political maturity”. In the other statement the chief of JI Peshawar chapter Baharullah Advocate requesting their high authority for reviewing the decision of participation in the agitation of PTI. The open statements makes to media by these two leaders of JI show the confusion inside the party.
According to political scientists the today JI is more confused than ever before. But saying some things yet clearly about the role of new chief is going unworthy. The best way is to give him time for implementation of polices. In this regard the upcoming local government election may be the test case for the new chief in popular politics. Here it is also mandatory to mention that before going behind each individual of the country, it is necessary for the new elected chief of JI to keep intact, unite and satisfied their workers and members who are really through whom they became the chief of JI.