Siraj ul Haq

Siraj ul Haq is a Pakistani politician who served as the Ameer (leader) of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), one of the country's oldest Islamist parties, from 2014 to 2024. Born on 18 January 1962 in Akora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he joined the JI in his youth and rose through its ranks over four decades.

Political career

Siraj served as a minister in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government from 2003 to 2007 and was elected to the provincial assembly and the Senate in subsequent years. As JI's Ameer, he positioned the party as a critic of both corruption and extremism, advocating for an Islamic welfare state and good governance. He was a leading voice in the anti-government movements of 2019 and in the Pakistan Democratic Movement, and he has been a vocal opponent of military intervention in politics while criticising the PTI's handling of the economy.

Under his leadership, JI contested the 2024 elections through the Muttahida Qaumi Movement alliance, and he stepped down as Ameer in 2024, handing the party to Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.

Legacy

Siraj ul Haq is regarded as a consensus-builder within the Islamist political spectrum, known for his soft-spoken demeanour and emphasis on accountability within his own party. He remains a senior figure in the JI and continues to comment on national politics.