Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman was elected as the new Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and will lead for the next five years.
Naeem secured over 80% of the vote, becoming the party’s sixth Emir. He is slated to remain in leadership until 2029. Sharif emphasized the party’s commitment to democratic processes at all levels, stating, “JI is not the property of any individual or family but belongs to all its members and workers.”
The selection process involved secret balloting by members nationwide, based on nominations for the party chief proposed by the JI Majlis-e-Shura. The outgoing Emir, Sirajul Haq, concludes his second term on April 8.
Naeem began his political journey at 16, joining the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), JI’s student wing, in 1988. His early affiliation with the party’s religious-political ideology, founded by Syed Abul Ala Maududi, saw him quickly ascend the ranks. He served as Nazim (president) of his college, later leading IJT in Karachi and Sindh and eventually becoming the Nazim-e-Ala of IJT Pakistan by 1998.
After his IJT leadership concluded in 2000, Naeem worked his way up from the grassroots within JI, earning the role of JI Karachi’s deputy general secretary by 2005. His tenure as JI Karachi’s Emir since 2013 has been distinguished by vocal advocacy for the city’s issues.
Under his direction, JI Karachi launched the “Huqooq-e-Karachi Tehreek” (Rights of Karachi Movement) in 2020, addressing local concerns such as water scarcity, power outages, and economic inequality. With his team’s expertise in social media, Naeem became the campaign’s prominent figure.
