Islami Jamhoori Ittihad (IJI) as Religio-political Alliance: A Study of the Role of Print Media in IJI Promotion in the 1988 and 1990 Elections in Pakistan

  • Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Imran*, Dr. Shabbir Ahmad, Dr. Mazher Hussian

Abstract

The present article aims to discuss the role of media and establishment in the formation and propagation of one of the most crucial and controversial alliances in the electoral history of Pakistan; Islami Jamhoori Ittihad (IJI). This study, through media reports, books, judicial verdicts, and academic articles highlight two basic myths associated with the IJI formation and promotion; first, it is believed that the establishment through state resources formed and promoted IJI that later proved in the Supreme Courte verdict in 2012. Secondly, this alliance formed to oppose the growing political strength of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and to prevent it to make government. Furthermore, this article exposes why IJI didn’t succeed to maintain its alliance for a longer period and the failure of the religio-political parties to attract the voters’ attention. This paper concludes that the IJI alliance was a need of the hour for the establishment to control the political strength of PPP and when it was fulfilled, the establishment stopped its support and IJI dissolved. 

Published
2020-06-01