Was Imam Ali (as) Harboring the Sabaite Killers of Uthman in his Own Army?

Was Imam Ali (as) Harboring the Sabaite Killers of Uthman in his Own Army?

Ibn al Hashimi states:

Qisas 

There was a public outcry for Ali (رضّى الله عنه) to enact Qisas [i.e. find and prosecute Uthman’s killers], and no doubt Uthman’s family and tribe were anxious to see the murderers brought to justice. However, Ali (رضّى الله عنه) decided to delay enacting Qisas for the reason that he was too preoccupied facing a civil war from people who were accusing him of murder, and this was not the time to be searching his own ranks for murderers. It was a time when people were ready to rebel against Ali (رضّى الله عنه), so the last thing Ali (رضّى الله عنه) could afford to do was lose more supporters by interrogating his own Shia’t Ali. Because of this, Ali (رضّى الله عنه) decided to delay enacting Qisas, but it should be noted that Ali (رضّى الله عنه) had the sincere intention of eventually finding and prosecuting Uthman’s killers even though they were from his own camp. Such was the noble nature of Ali (رضّى الله عنه).

As a consequence of Ali’s decision (رضّى الله عنه) to delay justice [i.e. delay enacting Qisas], hundreds of people were taking to the streets in protest. Many of these were from the same tribe of Uthman (رضّى الله عنه); for example, the governor of Syria–Muawiyyah (رضّى الله عنه)–was Uthman’s cousin (رضّى الله عنه) and he was one of the people demanding Qisas.

Reply

To suggest that Imam Ali (as) was knowingly harboring the killers of Uthman is indeed a shameless accusation and a slur upon the character of Imam Ali (as). Imam Ali (as) was unable to implement Qisas because those elements demanding it were themselves directly involved in killing Uthman and there is no historical evidence that handed themselves in for punishment! As for the processions this Nasibi should know that these were not widespread procession, rather they were limited to Syria wherein Muawiyah was using the killing of Uthman as grounds to oppose Imam Ali (as). There was no sincerity whatsoever it was just propaganda. If these demands were sincere then we would like Ibn al Hashimi to explain whey the demand for punishing Uthman was not submitted as a condition during the arbitration at Sifeen? The grounds for opposing Imam Ali (as) was mysteriously forgotten when it came to negotiations, why is that? Did Ibn al Hashimi’s beloved Imam experience amnesia at the negotiation stage on account post traumatic stress disorder he suffered whilst hiding in his tent during the Battle of Siffeen? If it was amnesia, at least his memory didn’t fail him when he demanded that the empire be split with him being made the Head of Syria.