Public office must serve the people, not personal interests: Justice Minister

Abdul Hakim Sharei, the Minister of Justice of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has stressed that public office and responsibility within the Islamic system must be regarded as a means of serving the people, not as a tool for personal gain or commercial interests.

The minister made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting of the Ministry of Justice’s Leadership Council.

Addressing the gathering, Sharei said that piety is the most essential quality of an official in an Islamic system, noting that a pious individual works with sincerity and contentment, seeking only the pleasure of Almighty Allah and the welfare of the people rather than material privileges or benefits.

He further urged employees of the Ministry of Justice to perform their duties with honesty, integrity, and a strong sense of trust, to protect public funds, and to work collectively toward strengthening the Islamic system.

Sharei also emphasized that his objective in leading the Ministry of Justice and the Commission for the Prevention of Land Usurpation is solely to strengthen the system and ensure the implementation of Islamic Sharia—principles for which, he said, many sacrifices have been made over the years.