Jamaat’s new tune in a shifting political climate

In the wake of its return to public political life following the events of August 5, 2024, Jamaat-e-Islami has embarked on a multifaceted process of internal reform not merely as an organisational exercise, but as a strategic recalibration aimed at navigating an increasingly hostile political and social environment. Once defined by rigid ideological orthodoxy and a clear distance from nationalist narratives, the party is now cautiously repositioning itself through symbolic gestures, policy adjustments, and structural changes that signal a departure from past postures while still insisting its Islamic foundations remain unshaken. Evolution in party charter: From sharia to welfare state Perhaps the most significant ideological shift is embedded in the party’s constitutional documents. The 2006 preamble explicitly framed Jamaat’s mission...