Kabul's acting Mayor says corrupt elements will be dealt as per Sharia Law

He also assured that contractual companies will be paid their dues, roadside vendors will be relocated.

The newly-appointed mayor, Hamdullah Nomani, who is also the head of the Taliban’s municipality commission, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said long-term plans for municipalities were being considered to bring about reforms, but currently their priority was to remove security barriers for Kabul’s cleanliness, greenery, and urban expansion.

He added Kabul had been transformed into a military division and they would use the resources of the municipality to remove concrete walls and other obstacles and had also asked the Ministry of Public Works for help in this regard.

According to Nomani, massive corruption plagued all departments of Afghanistan in the past, but the “Islamic Emirate” has now pardoned all people. “So this means that no one is arrested for past corruption.”

But he added: “We have pardoned all those indulged in past corruption but it’s not justice, forgiveness requires huge price. So many people have been killed, we have so many widows, but people have been forgiven for peace, so it is less to forgive someone’s corruption for peace. ”

He asked vendors in Kabul city not to pay taxes to anyone and if anyone intended to do so they would be held accountable.

“Right away we don’t pay attention to things that cause a controversy, we will have an organization for hand-cart sellers that will provide them with their daily wages,” he told the news agency.

“Illegal constructions that have been done or on-going will remain until the second order, but efforts are being made to legalize them,” he added.

What is Sharia Law?

Sharia is the Islamic legal system.

It is derived from the Quran, Islam's holy book, as well as the Sunnah and Hadith - the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, reports BBC.

Sharia acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes, the British media reported.