It is primarily (but not exclusively) a Pashtun party, followers of the Sufi holy man Pir Sayyid Ahmed Gailani have a reputation for moderate thought and the traditional mystical and introspective religious currents that characterize Sufism in that sect.

This party was a member of the Peshawar Seven, and was used by the Pakistani ISI for distributing CIA-funded weapons to the mujahideen fighting the Soviet occupation.

"[5] The party line emphasized freedom for individuals, the press, and organizations, whilst advocating the separation of powers of government.

[7] Gailani's constituency was drawn from the following of the Qadiryyah, and his group functioned like a Sufi order, greatly hampering its efficiency as a political and military organisation.

Also the pir's tradition of generosity led to many abuses, with many party officials receiving essentially fictitious posts through personal contacts.