Siraj ul Haq … Traveling along a challenging road.
You may have affection for them or feel disdain for them but Jamat e Islami cannot be ignored . Following the Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami stands as the longest-standing party within the Pakistani political landscape. It remains unparalleled in its singular nature, rooted in Islamic ideology, hailed as the most democratic, disciplined organization with a grassroots structure. Notably, it has evaded corruption charges, consistently aiding in times of crisis, led by a middle-class educated leadership, and while patriotic, its political successes do not fully align with its talent pool.
The main predicament lies in their track record of contesting elections under their election symbol, Scale only twice in the past 54 years. It’s a farce of errors, with numerous electoral alliances such as PNA, IJI, MMA, and PIF, each with symbols like ploughs, cycles, cars, and books. This approach has thoroughly perplexed their voters.
Presently, Siraj-ul-Haq, the incumbent leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, has declared that there will be no further political alliances, and the party will participate in elections using its name and symbol. However, this decision poses challenges as he negotiates the intricate political landscape, balancing his roles as a religious leader and a national politician.
Siraj ul Haq’ political journey includes a period of collaboration with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from 2013 to 2018, during which he held a position of finance minister in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. His tenure garnered commendations from the UNO for running the most transparent and efficient financial institution in Pakistan, and he received accolades from Imran Khan for his dedication and efforts.
However, he strategically shifted gears just months before the 2018 elections, opting to align with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami (F) instead.
By 2018, Jamaat-e-Islami experienced its most dismal electoral performance, obtaining merely one seat in the National Assembly, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one in the Sindh Provincial Assembly. This setback seemed to mark the start of a decline, yet Jamaat-e-Islami possesses the potential to surmount this challenge. With its robust organizational structure, committed cadre, ideological foundations, and widespread grassroots engagement, the party is poised to address its shortcomings and regain its strength.
Jamaat-e-Islami wields significant influence in urban Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Siraj ul Haq is running for election from NA26 Upper Dir. His party’s prominent figure in Karachi Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has left a strong impression on everyone, garnering admiration and sympathy even from his rivals.
Over the past six to seven years, Hafiz has been vocal about Karachi’s issues. Forecasts indicate that he is likely to secure some seats for his party in Karachi. If the party manages to gain seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well, it could be rival of a valuable political asset .
Manifesto of Siraj ul Haq
- Siraj ul Haq emphasizes the importance of civil supremacy and advocates for electoral reforms to ensure the independence of the establishment.
- He advocates for the military establishment to refrain from supporting political parties and instead advocates for free and fair elections.
- Haq pledges to follow the “Madina model” which according to him is in line with the vision of the father of the nation. He calls for an “Islamic United Nations,” aiming to align with the vision of the nation’s founder. He also promises to introduce a Sharia-based economic system if elected.
- Haq asserts that minorities in Pakistan have full constitutional freedom to practice their religion.
- He supports the Palestinian cause vigorously and opposes the two-state solution, arguing it contradicts the vision of Pakistan’s founder and the state’s official policy.
- He has criticized the US foreign policy on a number of occasions. In 2020, he said Pakistan had incurred losses of $120 billion to the economy and lost 75,000 lives being a part of the US war with Iran