Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Public Hearing in Iraq for Appeals of Sacked MPs and Ministers | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55351020
Caption:

Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Salim al-Jabouri speaks during a news conference at the parliament building in Baghdad April 13, 2016. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily


Public Hearing in Iraq for Appeals of Sacked MPs and Ministers

by | May 18, 2016 | Middle East |

Public Hearing in Iraq for Appeals of Sacked MPs and Ministers

Iraqi Speaker Salim al Jabouri announced the extension of the parliament’s legislative term for a period of thirty days.

In a statement issued, Jabouri said that based on the capacities of the speaker, the extension of the current term has been agreed on due to the necessity of reforms and legislations.

The extension comes a day after Iraqi President Fouad Masoum presented a request for the extension of the legislative term given the country’s current circumstances.

President’s spokesperson Khaled Shawani told Asharq al Awsat newspaper that the president is keen to activate the role of the government and parliament adding that, “this requires taking all necessary measures in order to overcome this crisis.” He explained that the extension is within the jurisdiction of the parliament, yet and according to the constitution, the President acts from what is best for the national interest.

Shawani spoke about Masoum’s visit to Erbil saying that the president met with the head of blocs and political figures “and is fully aware of the whole situation. Given the nature of the current crisis, the president also needs to seek the opinion of the Kurdish political leaders in order to discuss solving the crisis through dialogue.”

Iraqi MP of Iraqi Alliance of National Forces Mohammed Tamim revealed to Asharq al Awsat that Abadi promised to ask the Ministry of Finance to release the funds for the internally displaced citizens. With regard of the fate of the kidnapped, Abadi had decided to form a committee to follow up their situation. He said that the return of the displaced has been delayed due to the security situation and some tribes’ disagreements in the areas. Tamim said that the three conditions requested from the government are legitimate demands.

In regard of the Iraqi political crisis, the Iraqi Judicial Authority has pledged to set a date to hold hearings for the challenges presented by the six MP contesting the current speaker and the ministers challenging their sacking decision.

Following series of procedures and hearings, the Iraqi Federal Judicial Court decided that the sessions will be public. Iraqi Federal Judicial Court spokesperson Abdul Sattar Bairaqdar said that the court issued statements demanding the parties challenging the legitimacy of the last two sessions of the parliament to present their cases within the statue of limitation to be resolved as soon as possible.

A statement issued by the Judicial authority spokesperson said that “the court with its entirety met and decided to address all parties in the cases of 13 and 16 of April with regard to the challenge of the constitutionality of the parliament’s last two sessions.”

Iraqi MP of the opposition Reform Front Bloc, Aida Nasif spoke with Asharq al Awsat saying that the MPs will respond to the court’s request through their lawyers and within the state of limitation as announced by the spokesperson. Nasif revealed that some international parties, especially the U.S.A., are pressuring to keep the current speaker in position. Yet, Nasif declared that this would not affect the will of over a hundred MPs who decided to abolish sectarianism and ethnicity that destroyed the country and political process.