KUWAIT CITY, Dec 4: A number of MPs have commented on the suspension of the meetings of the committee tasked to lay down rules and conditions for granting the Amiri amnesty until further notice. It has been reported that the committee decided to suspend its meetings due to the speeches delivered by some political figures last week, when they mentioned His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in their speeches.

MP Thamer Al-Suwait said the amnesty should not become a toy in the hands of those keen on taking advantage of it; while asserting that it is rude to suspend the committee’s meetings and such move is aimed at gaining certain privileges and creating new tools for the ‘amnesty game’. He affirmed the citizens are fully aware of such games.

MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji expressed concern over the escalating tension, calling on all parties to reconsider their positions and to put the interest of the nation above all else for the amnesty train to continue moving on the fruitful track. MP Marzouq Al-Khalifa posted on his Twitter account that there is no solution unless the leaders of the executive and legislative authorities are dismissed. He was referring to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid and National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim. He stressed the need to ratify his bill on general amnesty in order to cut the way toward quid pro quo. MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri pointed out the suspension of the committee’s meetings will hinder the return of many citizens involved in opinion cases. He underscored the need to submit a bill on general amnesty and it should be included in the agenda of the next parliamentary session.

MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari asserted the three-member committee must be dismissed for insulting the Amiri initiative on granting amnesty to those convicted in opinion cases. He claimed the committee is taking advantage of the initiative to serve the interests of the heads of the executive and legislative authorities. He urged his colleagues to vote in favor of the bill on general amnesty in case the special amnesty is suspended. MP Al-SaifiMubarak Al-Saifiaccused HH the Prime Minister and the Assembly speaker of ‘utilizing’ the suffering of families to remain in their respective positions. He argued that linking the amnesty to certain political speeches is a clear indication that the premier and the Speaker are not up to their jobs. MP Fares Al-Otaibi added the ratification of the bill on general amnesty has become a national necessity in order to end the abusive manner that the premier and Speaker is handling the issue. He warned such an attitude will drag the country into political crisis. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff