RAWALPINDI: Jamaat-iIslami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq on Thursday urged the government to implement Islamic version of the death penalty.

`Qisas (retribution) and diyat (blood money) are Islamic laws and should be implemented in Islamic state. The punishment for a crime will bring a positive change in the society,` he stated this while addressing the Rawalpindi District Bar Association at district courts.

He said there was a dire need to give punishment to those who committed heinous crime and created problems for others.

`In Islamic jurisprudence, the victim has the right of retribution and can forgive, he said.

`The political parties have given a mandate to the government to take action against all those who spread terror in the country especially those who killed innocent children in Peshawar school,` he said.

Replying to a question by a senior lawyer and local PPP leader Sheikh Rashid Advocate, JI Emir said, `I am not a Mufti, Aalim or judge to declare anyone Kafir (infidel). But one thing is clear that those who killed innocent people and children should be punished.

He said according to religious scholars, Shariat could not be imposed through gun.

`More than 300 religious scholars gave their verdict against armed struggle to impose Islamic law,` he said.

Replying to another question, he said, `we heard the name of Taliban in 1996 when late Naseerullah Babar used their name.

Replying to a question he said those who waged war against Russia were freedom fighters.

He said the JI was against the elements who were involved in the bloodshed and terrorism. He said his party believed in rule of law and constitution.