Yousuf Wafa, the Taliban governor of Balkh province, has declared that all laws from previous Afghan governments have been fully abolished and replaced with the Taliban’s own legal framework.
Speaking at a provincial administrative meeting, Wafa instructed all government offices to strictly implement the group’s laws and to follow the directives issued by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
In a statement released by the governor’s office on Tuesday, Wafa said, “The old law has been abolished and holds no validity.” He emphasised that all former legal frameworks must be replaced with the Taliban's regulations and that a designated committee would begin reviewing and removing former laws across government departments.
Wafa also directed the local electricity office in Balkh to collect outstanding electricity bills from the homes and properties of former government officials, allowing payment in instalments.
The announcement follows a recent statement by Hibatullah Akhundzada, who declared that he does not accept a single article of Afghanistan’s former constitution. He further stated that a revised version of the old legal code, submitted by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, was rejected as it did not align with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic governance.
The Taliban have said that their scholars are currently working on drafting a new legal code "free from Western influence." Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid previously told media outlets that while elements of the former constitution could be reviewed, the new laws would reflect the group’s values and would be finalised soon.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have yet to introduce a formal constitution, making them the only ruling authority in the world operating without one. Most governance under the Taliban is conducted based on tribal customs and strict interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence.
Legal experts have noted that Afghanistan’s previous constitution was among the strongest in the region, with no contradiction to Islamic principles. Article One of the former constitution stated, “The religion of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the sacred religion of Islam,” while Article Three stipulated, “No law shall contravene the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.”
Despite this, the Taliban continue to reject the document, claiming it was imposed under foreign influence and does not represent their vision for Afghanistan.
