Did the Dawn print this report right? Sirajul Haq got elected? sure on what basis, the few shura they have SELECTED him as the party chief. So far in the country's 65 years history the party has ever been ELECTED always lost at the majority of the ballots ===== Congratulations to Siraj to be elevated rather then elected to be the Ameer of JI and let us see he stands in a real election and change the history of JI of loosing in real elections. Welcome the elevated Ameer.

Lets hope the new chief brings in some much needed energy (and sanity) into the party. One more thing worth mentioning is that despite the fact that the JI is a right wing party, it is perhaps the only party in the country which has deep rooted democratic credential within its ranks. No matter how much we may disagree with them, this is one fact that we must appreciate and the other parties must try to replicate.

How's that for irony? For all its regressive ideology JI is the only party in Pakistan with true intra-party meritocracy.

Good choice. But professor Ibrahim was even better choice. But he very honest man. Good luck to new Amir of JI.

Lo and behold. Everybody rise in the honor of the new chief (NOT).

I think this will prove good for JI as a party, as for a long period the party has been lacking a balanced leadership ...

He looks better than his predecessors, he has a softness to his face (something we should all expect from a religious man). I hope he saves the nation's faith on Islam which is pretty much at the rocks at the moment.

hope this new comer, at least refrain of the policies of strikes, dharnas, rallies and other actions .and find other exposers to get popularity .

Wish that Pakistan General Election be held in this fair and peaceful mannor? JI is the only party which has democracy in it, remaining all are dictators.

Good riddance! It was overdue.

@sja: For your information JI is the only party in Pakistan which is truly democratic, that is why baton has never passed from parents to children unlike all other 'democratic' parties.

@sja: You seem to be blinded either by bigotry or hate for the sake of hate. Did you even read the article? Over 25000 people voted. The party leader is chosen for 5 years. You may disagree with JI's political views but you have to be blind as a bat not to see that this may be the only party where the leadership is democratically elected and has changed because of this process. Show one more party Pakistan where an incumbent leader has run and lost the leadership? Grow up and know your facts before spilling your hatred on the key board.

What a great democracy. No other party can claim this. Such an elevation is amazing in an environment where democracy remains bed time companion of capitalists and land grabbers or their incompetent children. Hats off to Jamat Islami

Lets hope he proves to be a progressive thinking leader..........it would be good for the party, the country and religion.

Hope he exhibits more sense than Munawar Hassan.

good choice. He is true representative of JI. Way back in 1980s when he was Nazim-e-Ala of IJT, He was arrested with a gun in his possession while boarding PIA at Peshawar airport. Its the gun culture and violence helped IJT win every election at Punjab University. Now same culture will help them form the government via TTP.

A party of anti every thing. Anti Pakistan, anti army, pro Talibans. Some one should ask them, what side of the history they belong to?

@Tahir: but in all honesty those parties have won in national elections and won majorities so what is the lacking in the JI to win major and get the control of the government???

Mr. Siraj ul haq is well versed in several languages except English? I didn't see that mentioned. However, we cannot expect anything else from this leader of JI than same old backward looking rhetoric.

Bangladesh court banned Jamaat-i-Islami on war crime charge.

No doubt JI is the only party in Pakistan that ELECTS its chief through intraparty confidential vote. Founder of the JI took initiative to advise his followers to elect new Amir in his presence. I wish chiefs of other political parties follow this good practice in the best interest of promoting intraparty democracy.

@Laeeq,NY: Yours comment is an example of extremism that we must avoid to bring in harmony in the Pakistani society.

@sja: At least he has been elected by members of his party. out-casting the current chief is something never seen in PPP, PML-N and MQM. Do you ever think of a person leading PPP who doesn't have a surname as Bhutto? So is with Nawaz League. In fact I can see a split between Nawazs and Shahbazs in near future.

@sja: for your kind information he was elected by thousands of JI members all over the country who took part in election process. more than 25000 members cast there votes to elect Amir. and that is colossal in Pakistani politics

@Sher: And yet it adores the murderous thuggery of the Taliban dictatorship.

@haris: Haris come on Asif Ali Zardari was never a BHUTTO. He remained president of Pakistan for 5 full years. He was HUS-- BAND of Benazir Bhutto -- see the word he was not in any way any BRAND OF BHUTTO. you see the difference between BAND and BRAND?? Name is Name but to win a national election is much more than NAME alone, Jamaat-ay Islami is a very BIG BRAND NAME. Those who belong to this Jamaat are JAMMMATI first and then anything else. They can elect no matter how their leaders but their leaders can lead them and they have been leading them for more than 66 years and they have to find coalition measures to show up in the governing ranks. Please -- we have not learned to be critical and see what is wrong and how to correct it but we have been branded be Jamaati and nothing else. So please let us all start learn to bear the criticism and make good on our shortcomings. We had enough of Names and as they say what is in name it is in the KAAM. If the Jamaat would not change their operati mundi they will have Jamaat Branded leaders leader the jamaat members and not on the NATIONAL LEVEL. You have to think above the Jamaat for the bigger and tougher task of not winning leadership by meager 25000 votes by 25000000 votes to be a national super leaders. What stops them to win that big -- they have limited thinking of their own Jamaaat and their own members. They say charity begins at home so why not we all try.

@Asad: So what if he was elected? Even Hitler was elected. This does not mean that their ideology has any legitimacy.

New head of political wing of Taliban. People of Pakistan never supported JI because of their terror wing. In their whole history JI has no contribution towards human rights. I will love to see that Pak should follow Bangladesh foot print and ban JI immediately.