MP Mohammad Hayef

KUWAIT: Islamist opposition MP Mohammad Hayef yesterday charged that the government was deliberately delaying the implementation of an agreement to reinstate the citizenships revoked from opposition figures. Hayef also criticized National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem over his "negative" role in the issue, saying that the speaker's practices in this issue are unacceptable.

The government has formed a high-level committee to study the cases of Kuwaitis who had their citizenship revoked by the government for a variety of reasons. They include at least four leading opposition figures and their family members, who had their citizenships revoked almost three years ago. Following November's election in which the opposition made a good showing, the government pledged to reinstate the revoked citizenships. But Hayef said the process has taken a long time for no reason and reiterated that those citizenships were illegally revoked and should be immediately returned.

MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri said yesterday that the decision on the non-cooperation motion against the prime minister will be taken only after the debate of the grilling scheduled for Wednesday. Muwaizri and MP Riyadh Al-Adasani filed to grill the prime minister over a variety of allegations. MPs Waleed Al-Tabtabaei and Mohammad Al-Mutair have filed another grilling, which will be debated on the same day.

The lawmaker said the outcome of the debate will decide whether the non-cooperation motion will be filed or not. Last week, a number of opposition MPs said the motion will be filed. Muwaizri warned that if the government violates the constitution while dealing with the grilling, a new grilling will be filed against the prime minister.

MP Safa Al-Hashem said yesterday the financial and economic affairs committee discussed yesterday with State Minister for Economic Affairs Hind Al-Sabeeh the appointment of a new board of directors for Kuwait Airways Co. Hashem criticized the appointment because half of the members belong to a religious group.

By B Izzak