Re: Altaf Hussain QUITS leadership of MQM...oh no, not again!
If you don't even know much about JI then how can you make a sweeping statement about MQM being "better than other parties"? The claim lacks credibility. JI arguably has more mature and established intra party democratic set up than both PTI and MQM.
As with point regrading Hashmi's post, lines are often blurred between democracy and meritocracy.
I do not think you are right about JI or know much about MQM. In college, I contested election with support of IJT, know many people from JI, and I believe I also know a little about how JI as party works. I believe I also know a bit of how MQM works.
As far as I know, JI is a partial democratic party that has a religious ideological agenda that is of particular shade.
From what I know, here is how JI works: Though most JI voters are not members, a person can apply and become member of JI (I do not know now, but when I was at college, to become JI member was not straight forward procedure).
Members elect local and national Shoora. National Shoora elects Amir-e-Jamaet. Once Amir-e-Jamait is elected, he appoints all crucial posts (no election but appointment with consultation) … that is Amir-e-Jamair appoints Vice President, General Secretary, Secretaries, Zonal Amirs and local Amirs.
That means, no election by members other than for Shoora (council) and national shoora (advisory council). National Shoora elects Amir-e-Jamait.
MQM: Actually, most of MQM founder members were from IJT (and JI). They brought in organisational structure and discipline of JI with them, then they modified that to exclude religious agenda, and made the party secular, more focused, democratic and result oriented, where voice regarding every issue of supporters and local residents can be heard and their problems are sorted out regardless of their race, colour, religion, sect or whatever (something JI, having certain religious based ideological agenda, never bothered that much unless person has same or similar ideology as them). Membership of MQM became less exclusive and party focused on result orientated works encompassing all communities.
In JI, members are looked as privileged group within party ... and before making them member, party confirms that they have similar religious based agenda that party believes. Members are expected to contribute for the party most of the time, and are chosen in such a way that they have can do something. JI members and supporters help each other. Though most of the time they do not show that much interest in helping those who they do not consider holds their value (or religious bias).
In MQM, members could be anyone following any religion, sect, colour, creed, language or whatever. Most members are committed to the party, though may have no personal standing. Party looks after them if they are in need. Party also try to look after all residents within the area of their influence and even try to help those outside the area of their influence if party can, facilitating and helping people, without knowing who they vote or could vote.
Major difference between JI and MQM (according to my knowledge and observation):
JI: Have particular type of religious and ideological agenda (mostly inclined towards Deobandi/salafi school of thought), and thus could not adjust people from all walks of life.
[Note: most people in JI would be inclined towards Deobandi/salafi sect and one would seldom find Shia, Sunni (Berelvi), and people from other sects or religion in JI, especially office bearers.
Further ... one should know the fact that a party that is based on religious or sectarian ideology and agenda, cannot be democratic ... and that is true with JI too].
MQM: Secular with no particular religious or ideological agenda, and thus could adjust people from all walks of life (works across religious, sectarian, social or provincial divided) and like to cater for all.