ShareKUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said yesterday he was hopeful that the Assembly will pass a number of legislations for the benefit of the judiciary before the current Assembly term ends late next month. Ghanem said he is optimistic that all concerned sides will work to reach the optimal formula with regards to passing a number of draft laws that aim at preserving the independence of the judiciary and boost its status.
He said that consultations have been ongoing over a long time between the Assembly, the government and the judiciary to accelerate the approval of these laws. The speaker praised the status of the Kuwaiti judiciary, adding that it deserves all the hard work needed to approve the laws. The most important bill of the legislation is the judiciary independence law which makes the country's justice system more independent away from government's influence. If approved without major changes, the draft law will also guarantee financial independence for the judiciary. The Assembly is expected to close the current eight-month term before Eid Al-Fitr, which falls in the first week of July. The Assembly will then go into a four-month summer recess.
Meanwhile, MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji yesterday submitted a draft law proposing the establishment of a public anti-doping agency to control the use of illegal substances in sports and related activities. To carry out its objectives, the agency will propose bills to combat the use of banned substances and penalties for users in accordance with related international laws and regulations.
Also, Minister of Public Works Ali Al-Omair yesterday discussed with the Assembly's public utilities committees ways to implement recommendations passed by the Assembly after the grilling of former public works minister Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim last year. Omair said after the meeting that "MPs presented new questions to the ministry and we promised to send the answers after one month".
MP Saadoun Hammad hailed the ministries of interior and foreign affairs for the efforts they exerted to secure the release of a Kuwaiti citizen who was abducted in Iraq since mid-March. Hammad congratulated the family of Khaled Al-Sarhan over his release and hoped he will return home very soon. The lawmaker said Sarhan was abducted by an Iraqi gang while following up some private commercial matters, which demanded a ransom of $1 million to free him.
By B Izzak
