A Muharraq MP has offered to ‘fill the void’ as best he can and serve residents of a neighbouring constituency left with no parliamentary representation.
Muharraq Governorate constituency two (Middle Muharraq – Station) MP Hamad Al Doy has now called on residents of constituency one (Busaiteen and Al Sayah) to visit his office if they need assistance until a new MP is elected.
It comes as Parliament’s former services committee chairman Mohammed Al Hussaini, representing constituency one, became the first ever member to lose his parliamentary seat following a court verdict on Wednesday.
By-elections are now likely to be held in September before the new parliamentary term opens in October following a five-month recess, as reported in the GDN. Full details of the election for the constituency one seat will be formally announced later.
“I have assigned an employee to specifically deal with constituency one residents, who are following or seeking services from relevant ministries and authorities, until a new MP is elected,” said Mr Al Doy.
“Even in non-office hours, I can be contacted personally. This is the least I can do in such circumstances,” he added. “We are here to serve the people and a united effort will ensure this period passes smoothly.”
Muharraq Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman Ahmed Al Meghawi praised the community initiative.
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Mr Al Meghawi
“Municipal services in constituency one have not been affected and people can continue approaching the council’s technical committee chairman and area councillor Mohammed Al Mahmood,” added Mr Al Meghawi.
“It is only services that are out of municipal jurisdiction, such as employment or housing, which will be handled by Mr Al Doy for now, which helps avoid any disruption caused by this unfortunate incident.”
Others have stepped forward to assist too. For example, former constituency one MP Hamad Al Kooheji who lost in the first round of National Elections in 2022, thanked Mr Al Doy for his move and said he was also available to help in any way he could. “Whatever is necessary, will be done,” said Mr Al Kooheji.
The Cassation Court ruled on Wednesday to revoke Mr Al Hussaini’s membership after a case filed by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) against him for holding another nationality when running for Parliament in 2022.
GDN Media first highlighted the case on June 29 as Mr Al Hussaini appeared in court facing charges of not disclosing the other nationality – Pakistani – at the time of applying for nomination to Parliament.
Mr Al Kooheji
Mr Al Hussaini nominated himself for the same constituency in 2014 and lost in the first round. He then reached the run-off in 2018 losing to Mr Al Kooheji and finally secured the seat in 2022 beating Dr Essam Al Alawi in the second round.
His biography, photographs and statistics related to his parliamentary endeavours were deleted from Parliament’s website shortly after the verdict was relayed to Parliament.
Mr Al Hussaini announced that he was quitting political life and planned to return to ‘research and writing’.
Mr Al Hussaini
By law, it is impossible for him to ever run for Parliament again or be appointed to the Shura Council as the GDN received clarification that Pakistani nationality is ‘for life’ and cannot be revoked or later exchanged for another.
In a separate incident, Parliament yesterday slammed online reports incorrectly claiming that an official court request had been made to lift the parliamentary legal immunity of two legislators.
“We have not received any such request,” clarified Parliament’s general-secretariat in an urgent statement, further vowing ‘legal action against those spreading false information’.
“Some media sources need to show objectivity and accuracy before publishing or posting anything,” it said. “The circulated news stirs public opinion and should have been checked with Parliament before being announced.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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