KUWAIT: Protestors gather in solidarity outside the diwaniya of former MP Abdullah Al-Barghash (inset) after the appeals court last week overturned a lower court verdict ordering the government to reinstate Barghash’s citizenship and ruled that it was not competent under the law to handle sovereign issues. The government revoked the citizenship of the former Islamist lawmaker along with 56 members of his family. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: MP Saadoun Hammad yesterday filed a request to grill Minister of Public Works, Electricity and Water Ahmad Al-Jassar over alleged financial and administrative violations in the airport expansion project. The grilling was filed although Jassar has already tendered his resignation over a suspended jail term issued against him several weeks ago. Legally, Jassar remains a Cabinet member until his resignation is accepted. The grilling is expected to figure on the Assembly session tomorrow to be debated two weeks later.

But the dilemma is that currently, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah is the acting minister of public works. This is the second grilling to be submitted in the current session which began Oct 27. The first grilling filed by MP Mohammad Tana against Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Al-Subaih was debated on the opening day. It ended with recommendations.

In another development, head of the financial and economic affairs committee MP Faisal Al-Shaye said yesterday the committee will meet soon to review the public charges law issued more than two decades ago. The law bans the government from introducing or raising charges on public services without the approval of the National Assembly.

Shaye said the Assembly's legal and legislative affairs committee has pointed out that the law is unconstitutional and that the financial committee will meet to review the issue. The government has been trying to raise non-oil revenues after oil prices dropped sharply, and with the budget facing with a certain deficit.