ISLAMABAD: Recent political developments have seen the rise of two major players from several mainstream politico-religious parties: the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

Where the former has been a stalwart of religious politics in the country since well before partition, the latter is a more recent entrant to the political playing field.

But in a strange role-reversal, recent months have seen a complete change of tact from both sides. Where once the Jamaat was a leading exponent of disciplined street power, it is now the well-organised battalions of PAT supporters who have captured the imaginations of the nation.

The men, women and children of the PAT contingent remained camped out on Constitution Avenue for over two months, braving batons, teargas and adverse weather conditions at the command of their leader, Dr Tahirul Qadri.

On the flip side, the JI has been playing the political game. In fact, party chief Sirajul Haq used the opportunity afforded by the anti-government protests to engage in a Track II of sorts, shuttling between the protesting parties and the government under the umbrella of an opposition jirga working to end the impasse.

JI Islamabad Emir Zubair Farooq Khan told Dawn that it was evident from the party’s actions over the past five years or so that they had actively distanced itself from shows of street power and violent means of protest.

Allama Tahirul Qadri

“We have decided to work for the people and organise our party to serve them, rather than doing anything that will help ‘the other party’,” he said.

When asked to explain what he meant by ‘other party’, Mr Khan did not elaborate, but reiterated that his party would not do anything to help ‘them’.

Many observers believe that PAT might be looking to replace the Jamaat as the establishment-backed party.

Led by the moderate Barelvi cleric Dr Qadri, PAT is seen as a reasonable alternative to the more extreme Jamaat. Indeed, a recent statement by former party chief Syed Munawar Hasan, extolling murder in the name of God, has put the party in an uncomfortable position.

But PAT has its opponents within the religious party ecosystem.

The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) has been very vocal in its criticism of the party and held a demonstration protesting their presence in the capital while Dr Qadri and his supporters were camped out on Constitution Avenue.

Even outspoken human rights activist Asma Jahangir has noticed this change. When a JI delegation visited the family of a Christian couple who were brutally murdered by a mob in Kot Radha Kishan, near Lahore, Ms Jahangir said that the fact that religious scholars and parties such as the Jamaat had made this gesture was “a positive development” and “a good omen”.

Ms Jahangir has also been unequivocal in her pronouncements regarding the twin protests of PAT and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and has claimed that both parties are being backed by the military.

The impression that the anti-government protests are being engineered by a ‘third party’ is quite common, but the significance of this claim is different for PAT than for PTI.

Being a distinctly religious party, PAT has a very specific support base. The Tehreek-i-Minhajul Quran, the organisation Dr Qadri headed before he formed the decidedly political PAT, has a substantial following. Given the more moderate views of the Canada-based cleric, the party has come to be viewed as a more reasonable alternative to other politico-religious parties.

“Traditional partners, including the JUI-F and the JI, are detaching themselves from the establishment,” said Amir Rana, security and political analyst at Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), adding that, “Simultaneously, smaller parties, including PAT, look like they are offering themselves as a viable alternative”.

There are several theories about why the Jamaat is changing its tactics. Some feel that it has been sidelined by its traditional patrons in the establishment; others argue that they are threatened by the more extreme, jihadi sympathisers within their midst; but political commentators also suggest that the party has, of late, looked to become more politically mature and is actively trying to re-enter mainstream electoral politics.

But PAT Secretary General Khurrum Nawaz Gandapur rejected the idea that his party was trying to cozy up with the establishment.

“There are around 13,000 cases against us. If we had good relations with the establishment, then wouldn’t we have been spared such harsh treatment,” he asked.

He said: “I have taught many important people, including some senior army officers, but I never held a single meeting with them. Such allegations are being levelled to discredit our revolution.”

Mr Gandapur said that his party believed in absolute accountability, adding, “We want everybody to be held accountable; both the civil and military establishment. That is why they are not happy with us.”

But analysts maintain that there is more to this than meets the eye. PAT and JI have more in common than may be obvious at first glance. While the Jamaat has renewed its focus on parliamentary politics and are currently members of the ruling coalition in the KP provincial government, PAT is also seeking political legitimacy now.

During his recent whirlwind tour of the country, Dr Qadri announced at a public meeting that he wanted to contest the next elections and internal party elections are set to be held sometime early next year.

“We will organise the party up to the UC-level all over Punjab and in most districts of KP,” Mr Gandapur told Dawn.

— Special Report by Kalbe Ali

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014