Latest news with #RafiqAl-Salhi
Shafaq News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Basra Council votes down Al-Zubair Province proposal
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Basra's Provincial Council shut down a renewed push to carve out Al-Zubair as an independent province. A source told Shafaq News that the council, during its 35th session, voted by majority to reject the proposal, citing a lack of sufficient justification for taking such a step at this time. Council members emphasized the importance of preserving the administrative unity of Basra and warned against rushing into decisions that could negatively impact the province's governance and public services. Last month, an official document signed by Parliament Secretary-General Safwan Al-Jarjari stated that the Iraqi Parliament has approved a proposal to establish a new province in southern Iraq by upgrading Al-Zubair. The request, submitted by MP Rafiq Al-Salhi on March 25, was endorsed by the speaker, his deputies, and 100 lawmakers in line with existing laws and regulations. This is not the first time such a demand has been raised. Al-Zubair, a district administratively affiliated with oil-rich Basra, has seen repeated calls by local officials and activists over the past decade to elevate its status.
Shafaq News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi Parliament support upgrade Al-Zubair to province
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, the Iraqi Parliament approved a proposal to establish a new province in southern Iraq by upgrading Al-Zubair district in Basra, according to an official document. The document, signed by Parliament Secretary-General Safwan Al-Jarjari, and addressed to the prime minister's office, stated that speaker of parliament and his two deputies, along with 100 lawmakers, had endorsed the request submitted by MP Rafiq Al-Salhi on March 25 to convert Al-Zubair into a province 'in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.' However, Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani rejected the parliamentary push on March 27, arguing that religious and historical considerations support keeping Basra unified. 'Imam Ali wanted Basra to remain strong and united,' he said. Under former President Saddam Hussein in the early 1990s, there had been a plan to establish Al-Zubair as a separate province and annex Kuwait to it, but the idea was abandoned following Iraq's defeat in the Gulf War. On Monday, Iraq's Parliament formally approved Halabja as the country's 19th province, ending years of political gridlock that had delayed its official recognition.
Shafaq News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
EXCLUSIVE: Iraq to vote on PMF Retirement Law next week
Shafaq News/ Leaders of Iraq's Shiite Coordination Framework (CF) have reached an agreement to resolve disputes over the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Service and Retirement Law, an Iraqi MP said on Tuesday. The member of parliament's Security and Defense Committee, MP Rafiq Al-Salhi, told Shafaq News that 'the retirement age remains set at 60, with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani] granted the authority to extend the service of PMF members beyond retirement age for an additional five years if deemed necessary.' The vote on the law, Al-Salhi added, is scheduled for next week. The draft law had sparked disagreements within the CF, particularly over the retirement age of the PMF chief. While some blocs opposed setting the retirement age at 60, others insisted the law should align with the State Employees Law, which mandates retirement at this age.
