LAHORE:`It`llbeashowof power as well as a test of Jamaat-i-Islami`s management capabilities,` says Mian Maqsood, standing at the podium supervising preparations for the JI`s three-dayijtema (congregation) starting at the Minar-e-Pakistan`s lawns here from Friday (today).

Not an annual event, the ijtema is convened rarely in years on `need` basis as a source of establishing popular credentials of a party usually considered cadre-based and that, too, of selected cadres.

During the 22-year era of previous emir late Qazi Hussain Ahmed, it was convened just twice.

`The basic purpose of the gathering is to portray a popular image of the party to the masses as well as introduction of the new emir, Najmul Hasan, a former official of the JI, says.

Since taking reigns of the partyin April 2014, incumbent emir Sirajul Haq has not been able to reach out to the party`s members in particular and supporters in general, Mr Hasan says, adding, the political situation of the country also demands mobilizing the JI cadre and offering an alternative leadership to the masses.

Mr Haq is scheduled to spell out JI`s `pro-masses` agenda in the evening session of the hrst day (Friday)ofthe event.

The organizers expect more participants than in recently held public meetings of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek at the same venue.

`Pm expecting more people than earlier estimates of 150,000 participants from across the country and abroad,` says Mian Maqsood, incharge of the ijtema`s organising committee. He claims to have approached the Lahore commissioner to accommodate the surplus people in the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort.

At least 500 cooks have been hired to prepare three time meals for the participants, he adds.

Explaining the differences between the ijtema and the public meetings organized by other parties, JI spokesman Farooq Chohan says unlike the short duration and festive atmosphere of the public meetings it will be a threeday event at the `tent city` arranged in accordance with the map of the country where daily sessions for understanding Quran and Hadith will be held for the participants.

Delegations from abroad and leaders of various Islamic movements have also begun reaching the Punjab capital. JI`s India emir Maulana Umri and some Bangladeshi leaders have already turned up, while former Turkish president Abdullah Gul has also confirmed his availability.