Society vows to fulfil role of opposition

Manama: A day after the Lower House session came to an abrupt end for the third time and threatened to derail parliamentary proceedings, Al Wefaq Society vowed to intensify efforts to reach a satisfactory solution.

Shaikh Ali Salman, the leader of the 17-member bloc, said Al Wefaq would not abandon its drive to quiz State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Shaikh Ahmad Bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa whom it suspects of financial irregularities.

"We want to reach a solution that will seriously address the issue, but we will not give up our rights as representatives of the people to monitor the behaviour of government officials, even if it means that the sessions are postponed," Salman said yesterday.

"We do have a clear position on our role as elected MPs ... I insist that we are not driven by political or sectarian motives," he said.

Al Wefaq, a Shiite bloc in the Lower House, has been often accused by opponents of abiding by a sectarian agenda in its attempt to grill the minister, a Sunni.