More lawmakers oppose lifting Al Muslim's immunity
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 3: MP Mubarak Al-Wahlan has called for amending some articles of the nationality law to prevent them from being exploited, reports Al-Dar daily.
He said the current law contains some loopholes and contradictions which affect sections of the society.
Calling for objectivity during the implementation of the law, Al-Wahlan said the amendments must contain a one-year grace period during which the persons holding dual citizenship must decide on the nationality of their choice.
He looks at the dual citizenship issue as delicate and complicated and hence should be dealt with wisely.
He emphasized the importance of the nationality laws. He added countries don't take them lightly because of their far-reaching consequences. He said such laws determine national borders and differentiate citizens from foreigners.
He called for a comprehensive resolution for all problems in the nationality law.
The number of lawmakers opposing the stripping of MP Faisal Al-Muslim's immunity has increased, with National Assembly Secretary MP Ali Al-Rashid being the latest person to join the bandwagon, reports Al-Shahed daily.
Sources said pressure is mounting on the government from several angles, including its close allies who feel lawmakers shouldn't be punished for statements made in the parliament building. Al-Rashid stated that he is against the removal of immunity and supports calls for special session. Al-Rashid said he doesn't need to join the Constitution Bloc or any other bloc to defend the Constitution and affirmed that some people are trying to inflame the situation which might lead to the dissolution of the parliament. He affirmed that constitutionally, the government would be considered present at the last meeting and so, lawmakers have to bear the responsibility.
Meanwhile, Al-Dar daily said MP Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak expressed concern about high political tensions in the country and on how lawmakers have been exploiting the situation to cast misgivings on their colleagues in a bad precedence to hurt the political and parliamentary activities in the country. She said her stand on the issue is clear from the beginning and that she firmly opposes the removal of the immunity clause. She disclosed that she was among the early arrivals at the November 30 meeting, but she won't attend Monday's special meeting as her son is sick.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly's Legislative Committee has turned down the request from the Public Prosecution to lift the immunity of Al-Muslim, reports Al-Jaridah daily quoting MP Abdul-Rahman Al-Anjari.
The daily added the MP said the committee rejected the request because it contradicts Articles 108 and 110 of the Constitution.
The daily said the MP is surprised that the government which has so many consultants at its disposal could submit such a request.
The issue here, the daily quoted the MP as saying, is one of protecting the Constitution and has nothing to do with the case of Al-Muslim because the Constitution should be upheld at all times.
According to Al-Anjari the government ought to have respected the constitutional procedures and democratic practices.
Pointed
He pointed out during interpellations democracy is vivid particularly when the issue comes for voting and denounced the absence of ministers during the last Parliament session.
The government has shown it is not ready to cooperate with the legislative authority to push forward the development wheel.
Deputy Premier for Legal Affairs and Minister of Justice, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Rashed Al-Hammad said he fulfilled his constitutional duty by referring Public Prosecution's request for removal of Al-Muslim's immunity to National Assembly, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Al-Hammad said as a minister, he is obliged to report issues in the judicial circle to government, adding it is improper for a Justice Minister to work against procedures for withdrawal of immunity from a lawmaker or pervert justice for any reason. He reiterated the issue was about allegation against a lawmaker that required clarifications, which the minister should relay to the National Assembly, because the court cannot prosecute the lawmaker until the immunity is removed.
Intimate
He explained the Public Prosecution demanded from him to intimate the National Assembly Speaker concerning the issue, which was the normal procedure. He added it is not duty of a Justice Minister to find out constitutionality of the Public Prosecution's demand since the judiciary would act as the final arbiter on the issue. "Justice Minister has the responsibility to deliver the message to the National Assembly, which could accept or refuse the demand thereafter," the minister said.
The Kuwait Graduates Society has denounced the alleged deliberate use of pro-government lawmakers by the government to ensure the National Assembly did not meet the quorum for the parliamentary session on two consecutive days, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Chairman of the society Saud Rashid Al-Enezi affirmed the society is following the political situation in the country with keen interest.
He said the society opposes the violation of constitutional provisions and accused the government of intimidating lawmakers and denying them their legal right to perform their supervisory role.
He described the alleged planned disruption of parliamentary activities as 'delay tactics' to ensure MP Dr Faisal Al-Muslim is stripped of his immunity.
The government has decided not to approve the claims included in the Parliamentary Priorities Committee to increase salaries and raise children's allowances by KD 70 dinars to confront the phenomenon of high prices and high inflation rates in the country, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting reliable sources.
Based
This was based on the government's position that the financial increases in salaries or allowances for employees or retirees should be referred to the Civil Services Commission and should not be issued by a law, stressing that the government would reject any proposals for laws to increase the salaries or allowances or approval of cadres for some groups.
On the other hand, the government has set up the General Authority for Food as one of the immediate solutions for the protection of consumers in the country concerning the safety of imported food.
In another development, the Commission has also decided at the ministerial meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister for Housing and Development, Sheikh Ahmad Fahd to change the face of the Postal Corporation and make it a company which will be operated on the BOT system.
© Arab Times 2010
