Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS) Vol. 36, No. 2 (2016), pp. 843-855 Jamaat-i-Islami’s Politics of Change under Qazi Hussain Ahmad’s Leadership during Democratic Regimes (1987-1999) Muhammad Waris Awan Assistant Professor Department of History and Pakistan Studies University of Sargodha waris_awan98@yahoo.com Rizwan Ullah Kokab, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of History and Pakistan Studies G.C. University Faisalabad, Pakistan. rizwankokab@hotmail.com Abstract Throughout Pakistan’s history Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has played a very powerful role during various phases of politics in Pakistan. It is only political party in Pakistan which has an internal democratic structure. Its leaders are elected by the political workers of JI. Though being a model democratic party JI could not come to power under the dynamic leadership of Qazi Hussain Ahmad yet it went through various changes and also tried to bring a change in the political system of Pakistan during four democratic regimes of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from 1988 to 1999. The paper analyses the steps of Qazi Hussain Ahmad towards changes in the tactics and political ideology of JI as itsameer. Moreover it unearths his efforts of change in power structure of Pakistani politics. It also looks into the circumstances which made Qazi-led JI take various political decisions. I. Introduction The head of JI is called ameer who is elected by its members. After partition JI’s Pakistani wing was led by Abu-ul-Ala Modudi (1941-72), the first ameer. He was succeeded by MianTufail Muhammad (1972-87), Qazi Hussain Ahmad (1987-2008) and Syed Munawar Hasan (2008).In 1987, Qazi was elected as the third ameer of JIand under him the political landscape of JI was transformed a great deal. Qaziwas a versatile genius. His entry into JI infused a new spirit in it. Qazi re-structured, re-constructed and revitalized the Jamaat on modern lines. Qazi Hussain joined Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT), students’ wing of Jamaat-i- Islami, when he studied at school level. In 1970 he got the membership of Jamaat-i- Islami. Soon after his joining the party he was elected as the president of its branch in Peshawar. Then he was elevated as the provincial secretary and ameer of the party in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwah. In 1978 he got the responsibility as central secretary general of Jamaat. In 1987, he was elected as the ameer of the JI. He was re- elected for this post in 1992, 1994, and 2003. In 2008, he denied to continue in this position. While observing the contribution of Qazi Hussain Ahmad in the politics of the JI, one point must consider that JI is not one man show. Its functions are guided by a