The parliament has made the decision not to pursue the bill granting sweeping powers to two presidential commissions established to investigate murders and enforced disappearances and corruption until the research done by the Committee on Independent Institutions on the bill is reviewed.
While the three attempts to pass the bill has been unsuccessful, voting on the bill was again scheduled for Tuesday's parliamentary sitting in a bid to pass the bill. However, before asking for vote, Speaker of the parliament Gasim Ibrahim announced that a document claiming that the conclusion inked in the committee report on the bills were different to what was agreed by the committee on independent institutions had been received. The document was signed by six members on the committee, said the Speaker.
Therefore, the bills cannot be pursued further until the matter is investigated by the parliament, said Gasim.
"I call on the Committee on Independent Institutions to review the bills again. I would like to inform that once it is concluded, we will schedule the bill and pursue it again. I am invoking article 216 )a) of the Parliament Act", said Gasim.
The quorum required to ask for vote on the bill was not fulfilled during the three attempts made to pass the bills, although the parliament majority is held by the ruling coalition.
Speaker Gasim Ibrahim - Photo: Majlis
