Interesting article from Dawn. Instead of religious rhetoric the new amir of the JI focused his inaugoration speech on fixing the problem of the country, and on operating within the political mainstream. He said that the Jihad needed within Pakistan is not an armed struggle but one against lawlessness, corruption and loadshedding.
Religious rhetoric takes backseat as new JI chief takes oath - DAWN.COM
LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Senior Minister Sirajul Haq took oath as the fifth emir of the Jamaat-i-Islami here on Wednesday.
Unlike his predecessors, in his maiden speech as his party’s chief, he talked of problems like poverty, loadshedding, lawlessness and unemployment instead of focusing on religious subjects.
He urged the masses to stand up for snatching their rights from the usurpers.
However, he reiterated his party’s stance that any change in the country would be brought through peaceful and constitutional means. “The JI does not believe in underground politics and intrigues.”
Although he held the electoral system responsible for all deficiencies of governance, Mr Haq declared that the Jamaat would take part in local bodies elections as well as other polls.
The war against the prevalent system could not be fought alone and other parties would have to be taken along while keeping the JI’s ideological identity intact, the JI chief said.
Praising the services of the army and police in protecting the lives of people, he opposed an army operation in North Waziristan even if talks with the Taliban failed.
Highlighting his leanings by declaring himself as son of ‘Maulvi’ Ehsanul Haq, he talked of Jihad but instead of urging the people to join an armed struggle, asked them to launch a struggle against lawlessness, corruption, loadshedding and forces of exploitation.