Jamaat-e-Islami
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This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami (Disambiguation)  | This article's tone or style may not reflect the formal tone used on Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (February 2009) |
| Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan جماعتِ اسلامی | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founder | Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi |
| Ameer | Syed Munawar Hasan |
| secretary general | Liaqat Baloch |
| Naib Ameer | Prof.Khurshid Ahmed, Prof.Ghafoor Ahmad, Siraj-ul-Haq Dr.Muhammad Kamal Ch.Muhammad Aslam Saleemi |
| Founded | 26 August 1941 |
| Ideology | Modern Islamism |
| Official colors | Green, white, blue |
| Website | |
| http://jamaat.org | |
| Pakistan |
 This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Pakistan |
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Founded during British rule in India, the Jamaat moved its organization after the partition of India to the newly created Ideological Muslim state of Pakistan. The members who remained in India regrouped to form an independent organization called Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh, but established itself there as an independent political party, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami after 1975. The Jamaat maintains close ties with international Muslim groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Jamaat is a vanguard party, its members (orarkan)often called as "Jamaati" form an elite with "affiliates" (mutaffiq) and then "sympathisers" (hamdard) beneath them.
The Jamaat's objectives are the "Iqamat-e-Deen" or "Nizam-e-Mustafa" - the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. The Jamaat opposes Western Ideologies such as capitalism, socialism and secularism, and practices such as bank interest and liberalist social mores.
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[edit] HISTORY
Jamat-e-Islami was founded at Islamia Park, Lahore on 26th of August 1941 as a movement to promote Islamic values and practices. Jamaat was founded by Modern Islamist, a political personality, known religious scholar and great philosopher Syed Abul Ala Maududi. Total of 75 persons were present at its first meeting. It is not simply a religious or political party. It bears the logo from a verse in the Quran "Ud-Khulu Fis-Silmi Kaffa" meaning "Enter in Islam full fledge" and take Islam as a complete way of life.Before the foundation of Jamaat he was known for his thoughts in Muslims. He play an important role during the era of Pakistan Movement and since his ideology is influencing the Muslims all over the globe. The writings of Maududi gained a wide audience.
Mulana Abul Ala Maududi adopted this Modern Islamist ideology after analyzing all factors including Khilafat Movement, end of Ottoman Caliphate by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, leadership crisis in Muslims, Indian Nationalism’s influence over Muslims, aggressive attitude of Indian National Congress and Hindus and trying to merge Muslims in Hindu religion. At last in 1940 (when All India Muslim League passed Pakistan Resolution) he propagated in Muslims that we are not just a nation and our destination is not only the establishment of a national government but we are preacher and missionary nation. Never forget your mission which is forming a country which will become frontline castle for Islam.
Maulana Maududi wrote significant articles about political issues. He probably did most detailed discussion about nationalism and counters the propaganda of congress scholars who are saying that all people of Sub-Continent are one nation and trying to gather everyone under the leadership of Congress against English. According to Maulana “Those who are preaching this want to finish all the differences of religion and culture and then run that country using the mixture of Hinduism and Communism”. Maududi condemn them by saying that these nationalist are asking for the independence we consider even worse than Britain rule. We consider them equal to Robert Clive and Arthur Wellesley and Muslims who are following them are not less than Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq, although situation and circumstances are different but the nature of rivalry and treason is same. He not only rejects them but counter them by saying Nationalism and Communism is not different then “Shuddhi Movement”. There is no difference in results and we shall resist all of them. Due to such views of Maulana, Allama Iqbal said in one meeting to leave Congress’ scholars for Maududi.
Maulana Hussain Ahmed supported Nationalism and gave his reason from Constitution of Medina. Maulana Maududi rejected his views and argued that Charter is not about setting combined government, combined council, combined courts, combined party, Combined Society, Combined Education or majority based system. He criticized Maulana Hussain Ahmed by saying that if hospitals start poisoning people than where people shall go for treatment.
Zafar Ahmed Ansari, who was Joint Secretary of All India Muslim League, analyzed the articles related to nationalism and concluded that it was not just a discussion but it strikes the ideology of Congress and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. That’s why Muslim League distributed these articles in large number.
Maulana scratched the veil of hypocrisy of Congress. Maulana’s views about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru were strongly hostile. He said that Nehru openly oppose religion and is enemy of any division on basis of faith. He never hides his atheism and belief in communism and admitted it. He is influencing people including Muslims and making them nationalist in politics, communist by faith and European by culture and values. He said that Nehru evaluates that Muslims are spiritually weak and is running a scheme to merge Muslims in Hindu faith.
Maulana rejected guarantee of security of Human and constitutional rights and parliamentary democracy for Muslims. He gave examples of black people in western democratic society and explained the condition of minorities in Germany and Yugoslavia. He proved with history that after getting independence majority groups always neglect minor races and violate their rights. He said that only favor Congress will do with Muslims is to let them live in their temples. This is their mission to overthrow everything related to religion. So he wrote that we are not against independence but in favor of it more than anyone and it’s our duty to fight for freedom but our ideology is very different from nationalism. Some want a system which shall free the people of Sub-Continent but we want a system which shall free also Muslims of Sub-Continent with people.
Maulana also criticized leaders of Muslim League saying the people joining movement of Pakistan can surely made a country by uniting and can make a national government but we can’t expect from them that they will do any work for formation of Islamic government. The problem is not any personality but the thinking of the leaders and their character.
The objective of Jamaat-e-Islami is
• To invite Muslims specially and all other to serve God. • To end hypocrisy and deficiency in Muslims. and • To transfer the leadership of the world from evil, immoral and rigs to the hands of righteous and faithful servants of God.
[edit] POLITICAL STRUGGLE
Jamaat started activities in Pakistan by voluntarily services in relief camps of migrators. They were considered as honest and responsible group. Jamaat increased their social work, start gathering skin of sacrifices at eid-ul-Azha and opened many hospitals and clinics. Jamaat helped needy and poor people and opened philanthropic institutes. Small cities are witness of their dispensaries and mobile clinics and a clear proof of their human welfare and social work. Suriya Azeem Hospital in Chobarje Chowk, Lahore is another example of their social works.Quranic lectures, religious trainings and missionary colleges under the supervision of Jamaat is big source of spreading the basic message of Islam in people. By this Jamaat prepared a group of political workers with proven loyalty because of which political pressure of Jamaat is always felt. In Pakistan Jamaat is struggling for implementation of system of Islam. Soon after separation Jamaat raised the demand of Islamic way of government and with the support of common Pakistanis, the JI organized a movement in 1948 to convince government to initiate Islamic Constitution. As a result, The Constitution Preamble, commonly known as "Objective Resolution" was approved by the national assembly which in principle accepts that all laws and amendments will be Islamic or made Islamic.
In 1953 JI led a campaign against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan resulting in the Lahore riots of 1953 and selective declaration of martial law. Maulana Mududi was arrested by the military deployment headed by Lieutenant General Azam Khan, which also included Rahimuddin Khan, and sentenced to death on the charge of writing a seditious pamphlet about the Ahmadiyya issue. He turned down the opportunity to file a petition for mercy, expressing a preference for death rather than seeking clemency. Strong public pressure ultimately convinced the government to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment. Eventually, his sentence was annulled.
As a result of the demand of Islamic state many activist of Jamaat was send to prison. Despite all this Jamaat continued its struggle up till Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, who was himself a fan of Maulana Maududi, made a constitution (1956) near to the ideology of Jamaat. Jamaat run a strong movement in favor of Separate Voting System in the days of Suhrawardy’s government but Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy arranged a session of National Assembly at Dhaka and by making an alliance with Republicans passed the bill for Mixed Voting System.
Jamaat formed an alliance with Muslim League, headed by Abdul Qayyum Khan, and Nizam-e-Islami party, lead by Chudhary Muhammad Ali in 1958. They criticized activities of Iskander Mirza. Due to the activities of this alliance reputation of Iskander Mirza was strongly damaged and seeing no future he decided to enforce Martial law in the Country.
From the first day Jamaat did not accept the Martial Law by General Muhammad Ayub Khan. General met with Maulana Maududi and advised him not to take part in politics but when President Ayun Khan left a ban over political parties, Jamaat was first to be active. Then Jamaat launched campaign for the restoration of Islamic articles in the constitution of 1962 and submitted 9 miles long signatory paper for basic rights. Government planned to treat Jamaat harsh and punished by forcing to arrange annual party meeting 1963 in a garden with tight space at Berun Bhatti Gate and didn’t allow for loud speakers. After all that when Jamaat refuse to cancel it then rascals were sent who started firing at the gathering. People asked Maulana to sit down but maulan replied “Who will stand if I sit”. Maulana was saved by the firing but a worker was martyred. Dictator regime not able to control the activities of Jamaat banned her in 1964 and all known activist and leaders were send to prison. Later High court freed all and Supreme Court ruled in favor of the JI as a "legitimate political group" and announced the ban unconstitutional.
In the elections of 1964-65 Jamaat joined the alliance of COP and fully support Madar-e-Millat Miss Fatima Jinnah. Religious scholars raise the propaganda against the leadership of woman but Maulan philosophy was that in one side is a man who has no quality other than that and on the other side is a women who has no fault except she is a female so we should support her.
In 1965 during Indo-Pak war Jamaat helped government in appealing people for Jihad, helping war victims and getting financial and moral support from Arab countries. Leadership of Jamaat present patriot speeches from Radio Pakistan and representatives of Jamaat headed to central asia for their back up.
Jamaat was the main spirit in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) against Ayub Khan and in ground, workers of Jamaat was organizing it. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Maulana Bhashani raised the slogan of Socialism Jamaat strongly resisted it.
In the manifesto for 1970 elections Jamaat supported Provincial feedom (not upto six points) and declared Quran and Sunnah as source of law. Separating judiciary from administration and grantee of basic rights of minorities are also included in it. A strong relation with Muslim world was purposed in foreign policy. Jamaat was against the nationalization but in favor of seizing the illegal property. Maximum ownership of land was set to be 100 Acres and 200 Acres for rainy and canal areas respectively so that the uneven economic condition can be controlled. The program of economic justice is given instead of economic equality and promised equal employment opportunities for jobless people. Bonus Share Scheme was announced so that factory worker can own shares of the company. But just befor the elections Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan broke the alliance which cost to Jamaat-e-Islami who was competing Pakistan Peoples Party and Awami League having socialism and provincial slogans and announcing drastic changes. Jamaat only won 4 seats of National and 4 of Provincial Assembly.
Jamaa-e-Islami struggled till last moment against the separation movement of East Pakistan by Awami League. Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba organized Al-Badar and fought against the separatist army Bangladesh Liberation Army. In Bangladesh Jamaat is still facing vengeance. It is also mentioned that for the unity of Pakistan Jamaat also worked with the dictator General Yahya Khan.
On health grounds, Maulana Maududi excused to lead the movement in 1972 and requested the Top Elected Body of the movement "Majlis-e-Shoura" to select someone else to perform the duties of "Ameer". In October 1972 Mian Tufail Mohammad was elected as Ameer. Mian Tufail is one of the 75 founding member of Jamaat and worked as Secretary General of the Jamaat till 1965. From January 1966 to 1972 he was Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami in West Pakistan. In between, he also assumed the position of Ameer-e-Jama'at of Pakistan when the occasion so demanded, particularly when Sayed Maududi was ill and on leave.
During ZA Bhutto government Jamaat constantly act as opposition. Adding Islamic Articles in 1973 Constitution is due to the efforts of religious parties including Jamaat. Jamaat ideology is Islamism rather than socialism so criticized the policies of ZA Bhutto and sacrifices much for the ideology. Vice Ameer of Jamaat Dr. Nazir Ahmed MNA was assassinated and many activist including members of Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba was sent to prison. Many members were politically victimized. Even after that Peoples party failed to get power in universities and colleges and youth start becoming critics of Bhutto. That struggle gave birth to, many leaders who are now in the frontline of both parties.
Maulana Maududi was given the title of Imam-ul-Muslimeen in the annual meeting of Raabta-e-Aalam-e-Islami, Saudia Arabia held in January 1974.
Jamaat also play a vital role in a struggle against Bhutto government and is a largest party in terms of workers in Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) who take part in the movement with heart and soul.
By 1976 Jamaat's street power multiplied by 2,000,000 new entrants when it swore to organize marches to Islamabad for implementing Sharia. In 1977, Maududi cobbled together a grand alliance of rightist parties and launched a "civil disobedience campaign", leading to his arrest. So powerful had Jamaat become in Islamist ranks by then that the Sunni government of Saudi Arabia personally intervened to secure Maududi's release by dangling the specter of "revolution" in Pakistan.
Jamaat initially supported General Zia-ul-Haq as other parties of PNA but when General postponed elections several times Ameer-e-Jamaat Mian Tufail Mohammad pressured him for elections. Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed kept on criticizing General Zia for his dictating policies. After a long struggle for real democracy no one was in favor of Martial Law and dictatorship.
Islami Jamiat-e-Tulba starts movement against the government for banning student unions. Pro Jamaat labor unions also raised against the government but Jamaat did not participated in Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) because actual leadership was in the hands of Bhutto family and Jamaat was against the reselection of Peoples Party.
Jamaat-e-Islami offered important services in Soviet War in Afghanistan whose echoes can still listened. One of the strongest reasons for working with General Zia was Jamaat’s evolvement with war of Afghanistan. Jamaat is also very active in separate movement in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Members of Jamaat not only financially help them but also take part in it. Jamaat also support government for back up of Kashmiris.
In their support for Islamization of Pakistan, they piloted the Sharia bill through the Pakistani Senate in 1986.
In 1987 Mian Tufail declined further service in the post because of a long ailment, and Qazi Hussain Ahmad was elected to the top position. Qazi Hussain Ahmad became member of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1970 and was elected to the office of President of its Peshawar branch. He served Jamaat-e-Islami as Secretary and then Ameer of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. He was raised to the office of Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1978 till he was elected as Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.
After General Zia death Jamaat was entered in an alliance Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) with Muslim League. During Nawaz Sharif government Jamaat neither took any ministry nor plots or any kind of loans as others did. Jamaat announces Peoples Party and Muslim League as equal evil and in elections of 1993 tried to rise as a third power but loses own voter bank captured only 3 seats in the national assembly. Jamaat continued to act as an "eternal opponent" of non-Islamic rulers, while grabbing power-sharing chances, especially under Nawaz Sharif.
Jamaat boycott elections of 1997 and cleared a way of success for Nawaz Sharif. Due to this Jamaat lost representation in Assemblies but their importance remained as a pressure group. During Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrival at Lahore Jamaat protest and thousands of workers was arrested by the police.
Jamaat welcomed General Pervez Musharraf at first but turn against him once Musharraf started reforms. Many differences arises because of Musharraf’s policies. General’s decision of becoming the part of war against terrorism also increases differences.
In 2002, Jamaat formed an alliance with other religious parties naming Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and got 53 seats out of 272 elected member’s seats. This alliance took majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Jamaat constantly criticized war on terror and arranged public protest against the decision and denounced President Musharraf for "betraying" the Taliban and siding with the U.S. against them. Jamaat also denounces the presence of American troops and agencies in Pakistan. Jamaat give though time to President Pervez Musharraf and oppose him in many issues. Jamaat opposed the Women's Protection Bill in 2006. Samia Raheel Qazi, MP and daughter of Qazi Hussain Ahmed stated, "We have been against the bill from the start. The Hudood Ordinance was devised by a highly qualified group of ulema (Islamic scholars), and is beyond question". Jamaat-e-Islami believes that the bill did not need scrapping, but needed to be applied in a fairer way, and undestood properly by judges. Jamaat-e-Islami's senior Minister of Pakhtonkhave Province Mr. Siraj ul Haq resigned from his ministry against the drone attack on madrassa in Bajour Agency. Jamaat was also against the operation of Lal Masjid and Ameer-e-Jamat Qazi Hussain Ahmed gave his resignation from the National Assembly when visiting the camp of victims of the Operation. Jamaat participated actively in the struggle of restoration of Judges. Jamaat-e-Islami and affiliated groups have been involved in providing relief efforts in the Pakistani city of Balakot for the earthquake victims. And an intensive relief effort is made in flood of 2008 in Pakistan by its public welfare wing Al khidmat foundation.
In General Elections 2008 Jamaat-e-Islami announced to boycott the elections held under President General Musharraf with almost all other political parties of opposition. Only Jamaat, Lawyers, Imran Khan and Mahmood Khan Achakzai stand with the decision.
Getting re-elected for four times (1992, 1994, 1999, 2003), in 2008, Qazi Hussain Ahmad excused to be elected once more and Arkaans of Jamaat elected Syed Munawar Hassan as the new Ameer. Syed Munawar Hasan became a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1967. He served the Karachi unit as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Deputy Ameer and Ameer of the city. He was also elected to the Central Shura and the Executive Council of the Jamaat. He represented Jamaat at several platforms, including United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). Contesting National Assembly election in 1977, he secured the highest votes in Pakistan. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993 until selected as an Ameer in 2008.
