Question:

Sometime back, a high standard was observed for membership ('Rukaniat'). Would those who become members through the present (1997) campaign be considered equal to the old guards or placed in the second grade?

Answer:

The structure of Jamaat-e-Islami is in the interest of the people. If we have put some restrictions on our (old) members, this goes in favor of the public. We do not deny anyone to be our member. Any Muslim can be our member (Rukan). The purpose of criteria and the said standard has been that the public should have a party whose integrity is unquestionable, and whose members should provide a model of honesty and trustworthiness. Any one who consciously avoids sins, remains dutiful in obligatory deeds and his or her income and assets are never found dubious, is fully qualified to become our member. It is because of this standard that we, over these past 50 years, have been able to sustain a party structure that the masses can be confident of. Today we offer membership to all Pakistanis and seek their votes. We have always respected honest people, manifest in the fact that Jamaat’s membership has never been the sole qualifying condition for contesting elections from the party platform. Those who are presently joining the Jamaat will be organized and the prominent and capable ones will join consultative boards at the local, city, district, province and central levels. All matters will be settled and decision taken through consultation with these boards.

About the two other political parties it is said that any body can join them, where in fact personal and family dictatorship rules. On the other hand we openly allow every Pakistani — member or non-member — to criticize and question us and we seek his/her guidance. Still we have been subjected to a deceptive propaganda that Jama’at-e-Islami is a limited, closed and inward looking party. With the present membership drive it has been established that this was merely propaganda and the psychological war and the fact is that we invite every body to join us and be our supporter/member. There is no bar on the newcomers to become full members. The difference is that the full members (arkan) have to meet all conditions (as laid down in the party constitution). General member was made "scared" of our "tough conditions".

Generally in the political parties a "general council" is provided which in fact, works as electoral college whose members elect a cabinet according to the party constitution. The common members do not take part in this decision-making process as the party's "One-Rupee", "Two-Rupee" members are never consulted and they never know how their party Council was constituted. It is really not known if even proper elections are held for any office in these parties. However, they claim to have a general council that elects the party president and other office bearers. People are also not aware where and how their President, Chairman or Chairperson is elected, that how many members are there in the Council and how they are made members. It has always been doubtful who really was the member of such council.

On the other hand the Jama’at has properly constituted a body which elects office bearers. Through a clean democratic process the party arranges internal elections and this whole system is working according to a laid down constitution. If we attempt to disturb this foolproof process, it will badly hurt the organization of the party, which is a precious asset and trust of the nation.

Baseless Doubts About Membership Campaign

In areas where the campaign was going on, a target of 5 million was set to achieve, a question is raised that the process was only paper work. Can for instance, the Jamaat gather the new members of a locality in one place and invite the press and others to see and assess for themselves, whether the figures reported were right?

In every city and at the district level, proper record is being maintained wherein complete personnel information is entered. Every body knows and observes where our members and workers assemble, where they go and how they struggle to reach every door-step in various settlements. It is an open fact that the membership campaign is not without physical movement. People invite us and they question and debate. There are signs of general excitement. One can verify all this through the newspaper reporters and correspondents. There was another way to verify — scientific and statistical of course — that one picks for test some names from our record (at random). The fact finder then visits these people and asks them, if they had themselves filled the form or not? ....... Moreover, this whole record will soon be computerized, which will make it easier to contact any member.

What the party was going to do with these 5 million people. Would this force be utilized in the elections or prepared for some Islamic revolution?

Any body who joins Jama’at, knows well what type of party it is from within. Every such Pakistani in fact, takes a step closer to peace, virtue and welfare. He or she joins a program of social uplift and firmly believes, and must do so, that Allah the Almighty will see that it expands and grows. In this process of virtue (Kher) when the believer takes one step towards Allah, consequently and as promised, Allah takes ten steps toward His servant and makes his or her struggle path easier to follow. We are working for the good and to benefit every body. Resultantly, a great change is inevitable, In-Sha-Allah.