October 28, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 15, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) will propose drastic changes in its party’s strategy to meet the challenges before the religious parties of the country, Muslim nations and Islamist organisations the world over, Naib Amir Liaqat Baloch says.

The changes would be discussed at a three-day congregation of the party scheduled in Lahore for Nov 3-5.

Insiders claim that the congregation is being held on the demand of party workers who want to vent their complaints and offer suggestions for reforms.

The party’s tough criteria for membership might come under discussion, sources said.

Talking to Dawn on Saturday, Mr Baloch said the need for the congregation was felt in view of the disturbing political situation in the country where forces of the so called enlightenment moderation were challenging the basic Islamic values and culture, and religious elements were being isolated at the behest of western propaganda.

Apart from the like-minded workers and voters, the party membership had increased to 25,000 members all over the country and Azad Kashmir in the last ten years, which was an increase of only about 6,000 while some 2,000 memberships were lost due to deaths and other reasons.

The congregation would set new working parameters, review relations with other religious parties and discuss issues relating to the western propaganda against Islam.

It would review the party’s strategy for the upcoming general elections.

The congregation was being held after a gap of 33 years and might also address issues such as lack of the party’s ability to absorb like-minded people as members.

According to the Jamaat’s constitution, the members are the top decision-making body which assign the job to the party’s central and provincial consultative committees (shuras), Mr Baloch said.

The congregation would include ‘training’ session, sermons by the top leadership and Q&A sessions.