An architect of JI’s organisational strength

LAHORE: Ameerul Azeem, the secretary general of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Pakistan and one of the party’s most influential leaders, was laid to rest here on Thursday, leaving behind a legacy shaped not only by the positions he held but also by the generations of activists and leaders he influenced during a political career spanning more than five decades.

His funeral prayers at Mansoora were led by JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, who paid glowing tribute to the late leader’s services.

The widely-attended funeral included senior JI leaders and workers, political and religious figures.

Azeem remained a central figure in Jamaat-i-Islami’s leadership for decades. With his passing, the party has lost one of its senior leaders whose political journey extended from student activism to provincial leadership and finally to the national executive level.

Born on Oct 3, 1958, in Islampura (Krishan Nagar), Lahore, Azeem’s family had migrated from East Punjab to Pakistan in 1947. He received his early education in local schools before graduating from Islamia College Civil Lines. Later, he earned a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Punjab University.

His association with party and politics began during his student years in 1975. After becoming a member in 1977, he rose through the ranks due to his organisational abilities and commitment to the party’s ideology. His political journey began with Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT), the student wing of the Jamaat, where he served as Nazim of IJT Lahore before being elected Nazim-i-Aala of IJT Pakistan. He also served as president of the Punjab University Students Union and played an active role in movements concerning student representation during 1980s.

In 1983, Azeem was elected provincial secretary general of the Jamaat. During the political crackdown of the military era, he was imprisoned. Even during his incarceration, he remained involved in party activities and was twice elected emir of the Jamaat-i-Islami prison chapter before his release in October 1988.

Following his release, Azeem held a succession of senior positions within the party. He served as emir of JI, Lahore, central secretary for information and publications, secretary general of the Lahore chapter, and later emir of JI central Punjab. In April 2019, he assumed the office of secretary general of JI Pakistan.

Although Azeem never sought prominence through electoral politics, he became one of the defining figures in party’s organisational evolution. At a time when parties increasingly revolved around personalities, he represented a model of leadership rooted in institution building, ideological training and organisational discipline. Working largely behind the scenes, he helped shape the party’s organisational culture and mentored successive generations of workers.

His public life also reflected a steadfast commitment to constitutional politics and democratic participation within Jamaat’s ideological framework. Through his speeches, writings and leadership roles, he contributed to discussions on governance, public accountability and the role of Islam in politics, leaving behind a legacy that extended beyond the offices he held.

Outside organisational politics, Azeem contributed to the party’s intellectual and media work. He served as editor of Chashm-e-Naw and later as chief executive of Future Vision Communications.

In announcing his death, Jamaat-i-Islami described him as a leader known for his simplicity, integrity, intellectual depth and close relationship with party workers.

JI chief Hafiz Naeem expressed profound grief over his death, describing Azeem as a wise, principled and devoted leader who remained steadfast despite prolonged illness and continued serving the party with unwavering commitment.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026