Islami Jamiat -e- Talaba (IJT) is the largest student organization in Pakistan. It was founded by 25 students on 23 December 1947 in Lahore, Pakistan. Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba is working in Pakistan to eliminate the non-Islamic elements and secularism from the curriculum and teachings of the educational institutions of Pakistan. It is a member of the International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.
IJT was influenced mainly by the works of the late Syed Abul-Ala Maududi and Maulana Naeem Siddiqui. It is an Islamic organization whose stated mission is to preach Islam to students of modern institutions throughout Pakistan. From the 1970s until about the early 1990s it was also the main ideological engine powering the concept of political Islam on the country’s university and college campuses. It attempts to promote its vision of Islamic values and glorify the image of Islam through various means. Its main fields are the modern educational institutions, i.e. colleges and universities across Pakistan, though many local sub-divisions are active at the school level, like Bazm-e-Sathi, Bazm-e-Paigham, Bazm-e-Roshni.
History
Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba was founded on 23 December 1947 in Lahore and is one of the oldest student organizations in Pakistan. The headquarters of IJT is in the city of Lahore. Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba’s ideology is not based on any language and ethnic origin. The women’s wing of the party, with the same ideology but with a separate structure and organization, is known as Islami Jamiat-e-Talibaat.
It has a counterpart of the same ideology but with a complete, separate, and independent structure and organization, known as Jamiat Talaba Arabia Pakistan. (JT Arabia works in religious institutions of Pakistan.)
Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba is continuously struggling by keeping their voice up for the revival of students unions after the ban.
1948 to 1953
The founding members of Islami Jamiat Talaba initiated work at their hometown and colleges, initially they experienced fierce resistance by the already established Student wings, one to imperative to mention is NSF(National Students Federation).
President (Nazim-e-Ala) Zafarullah Khan visited various colleges and the University of Punjab and organized public speeches inside the campus.
Moreover, Organisation Structure was also started to be formulated, and initially, five departments were formed under the Islami Jamiat Talaba “Markaz”(secretariat) namely:
Department of Information and Publication, Department of Public Aid, Department of Finance, Department of Arabic Teaching, and Department of Research
Seerat Day and Mushaira was organized by Pakistan Markaz under the presidentship of Maulana Zafarullah Khan. Professional structured work of the organization was also established in Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Bhawalpur, and Karachi. In 1950, The Nazm (organization) of Islami Jamiat started in East Pakistan. Islami Jamiat tried to stop first-year fooling, started the publication of the weekly ‘Azzam’ from Lahore, and also The work of Islami Jamiat started in Colleges or High Schools.
To resolve the problems of students of Medical College Lahore, 26 days strike was observed. which ended in a Great Victory for Islami Jamiat Talaba.At this point, the struggle for the establishment of the Islamic Education System and the struggle for solving students’ problems were also included in the objectives of Islami Jamiat Talaba. In 1951, the Central Secretariat of Islami Jamiat Talaba Pakistan was shifted to Karachi, and Pakistan was divided into five working units called Halqajat(working zones, constituted of several working units). Publication of Jamiat Literature in Sindh, Bhawalpur, NWFP, and East Pakistan. Also the publication of Jamiat Literature in Bangla Language. The first ten days training camp was organized at Lahore for students. Educational and Literary activities were initiated in Lahore and Bhawalpur. In 1952, although it was already prepared, the implementation of the Constitution was started and the publication of “Student Voice” started from Karachi. Islami Jamiat participated in the college Union Election for the first time and announced 8 point charter of demand for the Islamic Educational System and launched a campaign for it. Islami Jamiat started contacting Islamic Organizations abroad. and Central Secretariat was again transferred to Lahore.
1953 to 1958
In 1953, Islami Jamiat started a Signature Campaign for the Islamic Constitution of Pakistan, until then Pakistan was not the Islamic Republic. Significant progress in student welfare was also observed by the critics of Islami Jamiat and Islami Jamiat also protested against the killings of students in Karachi University. Islami Jamiat started a campaign against the military agreement with America and for which a delegation of Islami Jamiat Talaba met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. At that time, again, the Central Secretariat was shifted back to Karachi.
In 1954, Islami Jamiat Talaba protested against punishment and imprisonment of leaders of Egypt Islamic Party “Akhwan-ul-Muslimoon” “Muslim Brotherhood”.Although it was not long since its formation until 1954 Islami Jamiat Talaba started to emerge as a notable Student stronghold especially grand progress was observed in the work of Islami Jamiat in East Pakistan. Another Publication of Bulletin named “Pyramid” was started by Islami for school students from Karachi. and started a Campaign against Obscenity in Hyderabad took Islami Jamiat Talaba 7 years to leave the first mark of its success on the Heart, Mind, and Soul of students of Pakistan when Islami Jamiat won the first Union Election of Urdu College, Karachi.
Islami Jamiat being always on the front line of social work especially for the Islamic World started the support of the demand for the liberation of Palestine and hold a Strong Protest against the massacre in North Africa by demonstrating against the massacre of Muslims in front of the French Consulate by gathering up more than 3000 students. Not only on the international scene, but Islami Jamiat also became the front line for the poor people of flood-affected areas of Punjab by collecting the food and water rationing for the affectees.
In 1956, Islami Jamiat demonstrated for the “Judagana” elections. Another example of Islami Jamiat Talaba’s thought and sight for Muslim Ummah was when the Day of Algeria was celebrated. Islami Jamiat established an Algeria Committee and strongly condemned the French Aggression. Not only Algeria, but Islami Jamiat condemned the role of France, Britain, and Israel against their part in the Suez Canal Conflict. At this point struggle for Islamic Educational System continued and the publication of the Sindhi Bulletin started from Hyderabad.
Important milestones of the year 1957 include the protest day against India on the aggression of Kashmir, from Khyber to Chittagong, Akhwan Day to condemn the Egyptian aggression against Akhwanul Muslimeen. At this point, Islami Jamiat Talab participated and got succeded in Union Elections in Hyderabad, Bhawalpur, Gujranwala, and Khulna after the initial success in Karachi. Islami Jamiat experienced significant progress in the Department of International Relations. In 1958, Islami Jamiat hold a rally against French oppression in Algeria in Lahore, however, as it was not liked by the Govt. the then, it ordered police to beat the demonstrator. Islami Jamiat Talabani protested against pro-Hindu policies of the Awami league’s Provincial Government in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Islami Jamiat Talba East Pakistan Wing (Islami Chatro ShanGho) decided to help and save Pakistan to fight against India and announced the Battle (Jihad) wing in the name of Al-Badar. As a result of taking part in the battle 10,000 members were killed on the battlefield to save East Pakistan from falling into the hands of India.
Islami Jamiat Talba believes in the Oneness of God (Allah) and that Muhammad is the last prophet of Allah. Islami Jamiat Talba through his movement succeeded to declare the Ahmadis (Qadianis) the non-Believers in the national law of Pakistan.
Islami Jamiat Talba’s Central secretariat is located in the city of Lahore in Pakistan.
Mission (5 Principles)
Islami Jamiat Talaba’s purpose or motto is “To seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty by ordering human life by the principles laid down by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him).”[
- Dawah (Call to Allah) – Conveying the message of Islam to the students and inspiring them to acquire knowledge and to arouse in them the sense of responsibility to practice Islam in full.
- Organization – To organize the students who are ready to partake in the struggle for establishing the Islamic way of life within the fold of this organization.
- Training – To take appropriate steps to impart Islamic knowledge among the students integrated under the organization to make them men of character, capable of braving the challenges of Jahilyah and, thus, to prove the superiority of Islam.
- Islamic Education Movement and Student-oriented Problems – To struggle for changing the existing system of education on the basis of Islamic values to build up ideal citizens and enhance leadership to solve real problems of the students.
- Establishing Islamic Social Order – To strive tooth-and-nail to establish Islamic social order for freeing humanity from all forms of economic exploitation, political oppression and cultural servitude.
Criticism
IJT has been widely criticized by many landlords, modernists, regionists, ethnic parties, and military-supported parties in Pakistan. Its stronghold in Karachi’s & Lahore’s educational institutes has led to many violent outbursts. Colleges like Government Civilians College, Government Science College, and its present desire to take hold of private institutions. Punjab University on of Pakistan’s leading educational centers which is claimed to be one of the biggest universities worldwide. Portraying themselves as a student foundation IJT is mostly politically directed by Jamat-e-Islami which is one of the dominant parties in Pakistan.
