THE Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s recent General Congregation unfolded with a bold claim: “Change the system.”

The party argues that this demand is not merely its own but the collective voice of the nation. While the question of how such systemic change can be achieved requires deeper debate, the congregation itself turned into an important political event worth examining.

Although the tradition of holding such congregations dates back to the party’s early years, the 1963 congregation remains a defining moment. During that gathering, supporters of the Ayub Khan regime attacked the event and a worker, Allah Bakhsh, was martyred. Maulana Syed Abul A‘la Maududi, the party’s founder and the then Ameer, was delivering his speech when the firing began. His companions urged him to sit down, but he responded with the memorable line: “If I sit down, then who will remain standing?” Maududi continued speaking as bullets flew around him — a moment now etched in the party’s history.

The congregation tradition remains deeply rooted in Jamaat-e-Islami’s organizational culture, with each major gathering reflecting shifts in its political journey. Just as 1963 is remembered as historic, the recent congregation also stands out for setting new precedents — most notably the unprecedented participation of women. Their dedicated session, where the entire stage was assigned to women while the Ameer stepped aside after his remarks, was described by........

© Pakistan Observer