Hafiz Naeem elected as JI amir

Outgoing chief Sirajul Haq and Liaquat Baloch were other contestants

LAHORE:

In a significant development within the political landscape of the country, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday was elected as the sixth amir (chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), one of the country's prominent religious and political parties, for a five-year term.

The announcement of his election as the new party chief was made following a decision by the majority of the members of JI.

He will serve as the party chief from April 2024 to April 2029.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore, JI Election Commission President Rashid Naseem maintained that 82 per cent votes were cast in the election for amir. Out of a total of 45,000 voters, 6,000 were women.

Hafiz Naeem had previously served as the chief of the party’s Karachi chapter.

Hailing from Karachi, the newly-elected amir is a civil engineer by profession. He also categorises himself as an environmentalist on his social media profiles.

The selection process for the party chief within JI is a significant affair, occurring every five years. This time, the party's central consultative body, known as the Markazi Shura, proposed three names to lead the JI members. Among these names were prominent figures such as Sirajul Haq and Liaquat Baloch, alongside the ultimately successful candidate, Hafiz Naeem.

Also read: JI's Hafiz Naeem forfeits PS-129 Sindh Assembly seat

The outgoing chief, Sirajul Haq, held the position of JI amir since 2014, marking a decade-long tenure. Before him, a lineage of influential leaders including Syed Munawar Hassan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Mian Tufail Muhammad, and Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi have all held this prestigious responsibility.

It is essential to note the historical significance of JI within the political fabric of Pakistan. Founded in 1941 by Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, the party has played a pivotal role in shaping the ideological and political discourse of the country over the decades.