Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan

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The Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) (Urdu: جميعت علماء پاکستان‎) (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy) is a political party in Pakistan usually seen as being political vehicle for the religious Barelvi strain of Sunni Islam.

The party has been "dominant in the Punjab and in regions of Sind" where the veneration of saints is "particularly popular" -- especially in rural areas and among newly urbanized poor. Like the ulema of the Deobandi and Ahl-i-Hadith, Barelwi religious leaders "fight for sharia law to be applied throughout the country".[1]

History

JUP was founded after the founding of Pakistan in 1948 by the Allama Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi. He headed the party until 1970, and was succeeded (in order) by Khwaja Qamar ul Din Sialvi, Syed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah (for ten years), Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqi (until 11 December 2003), his son Shah Anas Noorani (until his resignation in March 2008).[2]

Electoral performance

It was part of the right-wing Islamic Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal alliance, that won 11.3% of the popular vote and 53 out of 272 elected members in the 20 October 2002 legislative Pakistani elections, and 2.21% of the popular vote and 7 out of 272 elected members in the 18 February 2008 elections. On 12 May 2009 JUP became one of eight parties of the Barelvi school of thought to form the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to "fight the growing Talibanisation in the country".[3] In the 2013 elections Sunni Ittehad Council received just 0.08% of the popular vote and no seats in parliament. Both the Mutthuda Majlis-e-Amal and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Niazi) received less than 100 votes nationwide (0.00% of the popular vote).

References

  1. ↑ Jaffrelot, Christophe, ed. (2002). "10. The Diversity of Islam". A History of Pakistan and Its Origins. Anthem Press. p. 225. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Anas Noorani resigns from office of JUP president Daily Times, March 3, 2008
  3. ↑ "Jamiaat-e-Ulamma-Pakistan [JUP] Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan [JUP] Assembly of Pakistani Clergy Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction (JUP/NO)". Global Security. Retrieved 13 April 2015.