Hafiz Naeemur Rehman elected as the Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for a five-year term

LAHORE, April 04 (SABAH): Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has been elected as the Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for a five-year term.

The announcement was made by the Head of the JI Election Commission, Rashid Naseem, along with members of the election cell during a press conference at Mansoorah on Thursday. He told media that the majority of the JI members, known as Rukn, cast their votes in favor of Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to lead Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan.

A professional engineer by trade, Hafiz Naeem currently serves as the Emir of the JI Karachi chapter. His tenure as JI Emir Pakistan will end on April 8, 2029.

Prior to his involvement in national politics, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman was actively engaged in student politics and previously held the position of elected Nazim-e-Aaala (president) of the Islami Jamiat Talba.

Rashid Naseem revealed that over 82 percent of the members participated in the election of the JI Emir. JI has over 45,000 members (Rukns), including approximately 6,000 women, and they take part in the election of the JI Emir.

The JI Election Commission, an elected body itself, was responsible for overseeing the election process of JI Emir.

Comprising Head Rashid Naseem, Secretary Qudratullah Butt, and members Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman, Sardar Zafar Hussain, and Engineer Akhlaq Ahmed, the commission was specifically elected by the JI Majlise Shura for the purpose of conducting the Emir election.

Rashid Naseem affirmed that the commission’s duties culminate with the successful election of the JI Emir. JI Shura is also 100 plus members elected body. Rashid Naseem said that the election of the JI Emir was conducted through secret balloting. The process for the JI Emir election commenced on February 19 with the printing and distribution of ballot papers among the Rukns, concluding on March 25. Rashid Naseem said the election process was smooth and peaceful, culminating on April 3. The JI Shura had proposed three names for the consideration of the JI members: the current Emir Sirajul Haq, Vice-Emir Liaqat Baloch, and Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. However, members were also free to suggest any other name as well.

It’s noteworthy that Jamaat-e-Islami is the only political party in Pakistan that regularly conducts intra-party elections since its establishment in 1941. The party’s founding Emir was Syed Abul A’la Maududi, a renowned religious scholar, writer, and politician. Subsequently, Mian Tufial Muhammad, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Syed Munawar Hassan, and Sirajul Haq served as the second, third, fourth, and fifth Emirs of JI, respectively.