Former banned Jamaat leaders deny support to political alliance

Days after the Justice and Development Front (JDF), an organisation comprising former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), announced an alliance with Sajad Lone’s Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference and Hakeem Yasin’s People’s Democratic Front, several prominent former JeI leaders have publicly stated they do not support any political party or front.

Ghulam U Bhat, former JeI chief, issued a video message explaining that an internal panel was formed after the government ban to engage with authorities and assert JeI’s peaceful nature. “But they couldn’t do much, and the ban was not lifted, so the panel lost its purpose,” he stated.

Echoing this sentiment, Mohammad Abdullah Wani, another former JeI chief, said, “The panel was created to talk, but they failed. If they are doing any activities now, they are acting against the Jamaat-e-Islami.” He emphatically added, “We are not backing anyone. No front or any party.”

At least four former JeI leaders have made similar declarations, challenging the legitimacy of the panel responsible for forming the JDF and its subsequent alliance.

The JeI was first declared an ‘Unlawful Association’ in February 2019, and the ban was extended for another five years in 2024 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. After the initial ban, an eight-member panel was indeed formed to manage JeI’s affairs.

Reacting to these developments, Shameem Ahmad Thoker, head of the JDF and a key figure behind the recent alliance, expressed surprise at the former chiefs’ statements. “We don’t know why they are releasing such statements…the present panel has the support of everyone to make decisions. We take all decisions in consultation from everyone,” he asserted. Thoker added that they are investigating whether the former leaders are “under pressure” to make such public statements.

Last year, JeI-backed independent candidates contested assembly polls but were largely unsuccessful, indicating a lack of significant public support.

J & K