Movement Strength Without Electoral Consolidation: Jamaat-E-Islami Under Qazi Hussain Ahmad, 1987-2009

Abstract

The leadership of Qazi Hussain Ahmad of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) between 1987 and 2009 in the form of the following central puzzle of Pakistan political history: how can a highly disciplined Islamist movement increase its publicity and reach, welfare availability, protest potential, and coalitions relevance without turning its resources into any kind of stable independent electorate? The study incorporates documentary evidence, five semi-structured interviews with experienced JI organizational actors in Sargodha using a qualitative historical case-study design. Party publications, election and parliamentary records, contemporary reporting, policy material and academic scholarship are all examples of documentary sources; strategies on national decisions and how the local perceive them are interpreted through interviews. The article believes that Qazi era can be seen as an accommodation in the continuity of ideology. By enlarging political discourse on social justice, accountability, welfare, popular involvement, anti-authoritarianism, and national sovereignty;Qazi superimposed Maududian constitutions of Islamic constitutionalism, moral renewal, disciplined organization, ideological education and training, and consultative power. The effects of his leadership were the strengthened mass contact, networks of youth and women, and legitimacy of welfare, alliances, and mobilization of masses. These advantages however revealed a sustained movement-party predicament, coalitions enhanced representation but obscured independent identity; and unofficial electoral tests showed constituency frailty; and election boycotts served a virtuous purpose of guarding principle at the cost of a discontinuity of parliamentary, presidential and electoral continuity. The consequence of this trend was high mobility of movement without a complete electoral consolidation. A social-political influence and conversion at constituency level could give a more balanced interpretation to JI under Qazi Hussain Ahmad and further help in broader discussions on the role of Islamist parties, organizational adaptation and democratic competition in Pakistan.