Deal to refer grilling request to Court

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 4: Chairperson of the National Assembly's Negative Phenomenon Committee MP Mohammad Hayef demanded an extensive probe into the 'abnormal' arrest of a journalist by a military officer and a sergeant, reports Al-Rai daily.

Hayef said the incident affirms previous allegations that some senior officials in the Interior Ministry have been waging war against some people in the course of their professional assignments. He said the fact-finding committee is already investigating the case wherein two military officers arrested an expatriate and a Kuwaiti woman. He denounced the act of punishing people while carrying out official duties and reiterated that the fact-finding committee will find out how the authority has been dealing with the two officers, in addition to steps taken so far to determine how they dealt with the arrested journalist. "We hope every concerned official will cooperate with us to rid the society of corrupt activities," the lawmaker stated.

Meanwhile, the government has allegedly reached an agreement with some members of the Popular Labor Bloc to refer the grilling request they intend to submit against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on the sports issue to the Constitutional Court, reports Al-Shahid daily quoting sources.

Sources disclosed the bloc, in turn, asked the government to fully support its proposal on the need to consult the Kuwait Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) every time a bill related to it is forwarded to the National Assembly. Sources said the government has indirectly informed the bloc's members that any interpellation submitted against the premier might lead to the termination of their alliance, which both parties have been enjoying for many years.

Sources added the bloc met several times behind closed doors to look into the pros and cons of striking a deal with the government.  Sources confirmed the bloc later arrived at a unanimous decision to maintain its alliance with the government as it is greatly beneficial to the group. Sources said the bloc believes the deal will protect the electoral interests of its members.

Sources stated the bloc will submit an unconstitutional grilling request, and then the government will refer it to the Constitutional Court; thereby, serving the interests of both sides, particularly since the government will soon spend KD 37 billion for the implementation of its development plan.

© Arab Times 2010