Islamabad: Radical cleric Sufi Muhammad, who played a crucial role in enforcing Islamic law in Pakistans restive northwestern Swat valley, on Sunday said there is no room for democracy in Islam and that no one could appeal against the verdict of Shariah courts.
Addressing a gathering of thousands of people at Mingora, the main city of Swat district, the chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi described democracy as an un-Islamic system. The existing system contravenes Islam and the Quran, he claimed.
Asserting that there is no room for democracy in an Islamic system, he claimed Pakistans rulers are appeasing the West by thrusting the system of "kafirs" or infidels on the people of the country.
Muhammad said many years of struggle for implementing Shariah or Islamic law in Malakand division, which includes Swat, were now bearing results. Claiming that all un-Islamic laws will soon be abolished in Malakand, he asked all civil judges to leave the region by April 23.
I want all (civil) judges in Malakand division to withdraw from the area. Darul Qaza (appellate courts) should be formed in each district by April 23 and Qazis appointed in all districts within this month. If this is not done, the government will be responsible for any consequences," he said.
The pro-Taliban cleric, who set up Qazi or Islamic courts in Swat even before President Asif Ali Zardari ratified a controversial law to enforce Shariah in the region, said no appeal could be made against a verdict given by a Qazi court in civil courts. Such decisions could be appealed only in Darul Qaza, or superior courts in the Shariah system, he added.
High Courts and the Supreme Court contravene Shariah and appeals in such institutions would be "haram" or unlawful. The final decisions of the Darul Qaza cannot be challenged in High Courts or the Supreme Court, he said.
Muhammad, who has been negotiating with the Taliban on behalf of the government, said Pakistans judicial system should be in accordance with Shariah. Instead of being divided into different parties, Muslims need unity, he said.
The cleric did not make any appeal to the Taliban to lay down their arms. It was widely expected that he would do so as Sunday's gathering had been termed a peace rally.
Taliban fighters led by Maulana Fazlullah, the son-in-law of Sufi Muhammad, currently control most parts of Swat, located just 160 km from Islamabad.
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