Encyclopedia of Islam

Jamiyyat al-Ulama-i Islam

  

389  J

---

group, including several subgroups under differ-

ent leadership. Since the establishment of these 

Muslim states, the JUI has been active as a politi-

cal party and has pressed for the implementation 

of the 

sharia

. In Pakistan, the JUI was active in 

the anti-a

hmadiyya

 riots in 1953 and 1974 and 

anti-Shia agitations. Part of the JUI’s agenda has 

also been to establish a “pure” Islam in Pakistan. 

In particular, the JUI has sought to eliminate the 

worship of saints and other practices they regard 

as un-Islamic.

As a political party, the JUI held political con-

trol of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) 

in the 1970’s under the leadership of Maulana 

Mufti Mahmud (1919–80), who was chief min-

ister from 1971 to 1973. In addition to pursuing 

populist policies regarding land reform, public 

education, and health care, during this period 

several “Islamic” laws were instituted and remain, 

including the prohibition of alcohol, a reform of 

inheritance laws, and the mandatory observance 

of Ramadan. The JUI opposed the regimes of Zul-

fiqar Ali Bhutto (r. 1973–77) and Benazir Bhutto 

(r. 1988–90, 1993–96), gave lukewarm support 

to Nawaz Sharif (r. 1990–93, 1997–99), and has 

been an active critic of the regime of Pervez Mush-

arraf (r. 1999–2008). Currently, under the leader-

ship of Mahmud’s son Fazlur Rahman, the JUI is 

again influential as part of the Muttahida Majlis-i 

Amal (MMA) coalition of religious parties that 

came to power in the NWFP in 2002. The JUI is 

also popular in Baluchistan.

See also i

slamism

; 

politics

 

and

 i

slam

; s

hiism

.

Anna Bigelow