STREET POWER AND ELECTORAL PERFORMANCE OF ISLAMIC PARTIES IN PAKISTANI POLITICS 1947-2002: AN HISTORICAL STUDY

Abstract

In Pakistan, Islamic political parties have huge force and counted among the elite groups that influence political processes and decision-making in Pakistan which include the military, bureaucratic, political elites, landlord and business elite.. These parties have a immense street power. But they have not perfomed well in terms of votes in Pakistan's elections over the years. They exercised influence not only during the years of the Afghan jehad, but also continue to play a role in politics since independence. Despite the fact that they have never been able to do well in terms of votes in Pakistan's elections. The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) and the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP) have never got majority in the National Assembly. Yet these parties are at the forefront on issues like the establishment of Shariat Courts and legislation on subjects like ushr, zakat or blasphemy. The masses follow these parties, whether it is in denigrating, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif on issue of disintegrating Pakistan in 1971 or "sell-out" on Kargil, or in starting a campaign against the US attitude on various issues. This article deals to dig out the reasons that despite of having such huge following, why they could not get clear electoral support and victory. The history of only three parties i.e.the JI, the JUI and the JUP till 2002, is given.