Democracy and Political Parties: : An analysis of Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to understand and analyze the nature, origin and evolution of democracy and political parties in Pakistan. There is a multitude of political parties in Pakistan, calming to be the torch bearer of democracy but in practice have no democracy within its folds. Jamaat-i-Islami is the only party in Pakistan which has tried to ensure democratization in its folds and ranks. The article is an attempt to ascertain the degree of internal democracy in the party. To achieve the desired objective, descriptive and analytical research approach is adopted. To collect relevant material, primary sources, like Jamaat-i-Islami’s constitution and the writings of the founding father, Sayed Abu-al-Ala Maududi have been consulted. In secondary sources, books, research articles and news article and online materials are utilized to accomplish this research article. This research concludes that, though with a limited vote bank Jamaat-i-Islami is the only political party of Pakistan which fulfils the requirements of a modern democratic political party.

Key words

                      Democracy, Religion, Political parties, Jamaat-i-Islami