Gulf | Bahrain
No end in sight to row over minister's grilling
A breakthrough in the parliament deadlock over the grilling of a state minister for alleged financial irregularities remains as elusive as ever after the MPs refused to soften their stand.
- By Habib Toumi, Correspondent
- Published: 00:43 March 24, 2008
Manama: A breakthrough in the parliament deadlock over the grilling of a state minister for alleged financial irregularities remains as elusive as ever after the MPs refused to soften their stand.
"There is nothing new from any of the sides involved in the dispute over the questioning but we do look forward to positive developments so that we can focus on other pressing matters," Dr Jassem Hussain, representing Al Wefaq, yesterday told Gulf News.
The Lower House is deeply fractured after three sessions were adjourned following verbal duels between Al Wefaq MPs who called for the quizzing of State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Shaikh Ahmad Bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa and those who opposed it on grounds that it was unconstitutional.
Last week's session was postponed after MP Adel Al Mouawda, who enjoys the trust of all the blocs, suggested reaching a breakthrough in meetings outside the parliament.
"Unfortunately, we have not been able to agree on a satisfactory solution. The problem is that Tuesday is the deadline.
"If there is no agreement before the weekly session, then there will be a general vote by all MPs," Al Mouawda said.
The general vote was suggested by Speaker Khalifa Al Dhahrani to break the deadlock caused by the contradicting interpretations of the bylaws.
'Hijacking' of powers
Al Wefaq, with only 17 of the 40 seats, has rejected the proposal, saying that it was an attempt to hijack its powers to bring ministers to questioning.
MPs representing the Independent Bloc sought to defuse the tension by dropping a move to grill Mansoor Bin Rajab, Minister of Agriculture and Municipalities, whom they accuse of fin-ancial irregularities and mismanagement, but asked Al Wefaq to emulate them.
Al Wefaq distanced itself from the move, saying that there was no link between the two cases and insisted on grilling Shaikh Ahmad.
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