Opposition plays coy on poll stance 3

Email: gdnnews@gdn.com.bh
Opposition plays
coy on poll stance
By SANDEEP SINGH GREWAL
BAHRAIN’S opposition groups
continue to play coy about their participation in next month’s elections,
just days before the opening of candidate registration on Wednesday.
Al Wefaq National Islamic Society,
the Democratic Progressive Tribune and
the National Democratic Action Society
all maintain that they intend to boycott
the elections, set to be held on November 22.
Yet a final announcement on the subject is not due to be made until Saturday, when all five opposition groups will
hold a meeting to decide whether their
boycott should go ahead.
“Our society’s decision is based on
the political situation in the country over
the past three-and-a-half years and we
do not see much change,” said Democratic Progressive Tribune secretary
Al Wefaq rally illegal
THE Interior Ministry has announced that
a planned rally by Al
Wefaq National Islamic Society today is not
authorised.
Al Wefaq intends to
organise a march from
Duraz to Saar starting
at 4pm and has urged its
general Abdulnabi Salman, who told the
GDN that they had not even drawn up a
provisional list of candidates to contest
the polls.
“If individuals want to participate
then we will not stop them from doing
so, as it is within their political and constitutional rights.”
National Democratic Action Society
deputy secretary general Radhi Al Mousawi said his society still intended to
boycott the polls, but that this decision
was “subject to change”.
“The five societies (including Al
Ekha National Society and the National
Democratic Assembly) will sign a final
statement that will explain our stance on
Saturday,” he said.
The opposition boycott of this year’s
elections was first announced in May,
based on the government’s alleged failure to deal with several issues including
ending the political crisis, redefining
electoral districts and vesting parliament
with more powers.
Last month, His Royal Highness
Pakistan School principal is
suspended after complaints
A TOP official of a leading expatriate school in Bahrain has
been suspended pending investigations into alleged irregularities.
The Pakistan School issued
a suspension notice to principal
Muhammad Akram following
complaints from faculty members, students and parents.
However, school chairman
Muhammed Ilyas Khan did not
want to reveal details of the ongoing probe.
“We would not like to comment on this or disclose the allegations because an investigation has been launched,” he told
the GDN.
“A committee comprising
board members will look into
the allegations and decide on
By RAJI UNNIKRISHNAN
the next step.
“We have notified the Education Ministry as well as the
Pakistan Embassy on this – we
have sent them copies of the
letter.
“Parents have also been notified through a circular, while
an acting principal has been
appointed who will take care of
Mr Akram’s official duties.”
However, Mr Akram told the
GDN that he has filed a lawsuit
against the school for suspending him without providing an
official explanation.
“I was only given a suspension letter, which doesn’t tell
me the reasons for my suspension,” said the 46-year-old.
supporters to take part.
However, the ministry
said legal action would
be taken against any violators of the law.
“I have filed a case in the
urgent court as well as the labour court against this unfair
action.”
Pakistan Embassy officials
met the school board yesterday
to discuss the issue.
“The embassy has a limited
role in the school’s affairs according to the school constitution and hence we can only advise both parties to peacefully
resolve the issue,” said embassy community welfare attache
Maqsood Shah.
“Based on the meeting, there
is a committee formed which
includes present and former
board members who will look
into the case and decide further.”
The GDN reported in August
Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme
Commander and First Deputy Premier,
outlined an action framework that
seemingly met some of these demands
– including the redistribution of electoral districts, revised measures to ensure
parliament can question actions of ministers and new rights of approval for parliament on Cabinet appointments.
However, for Mr Al Mousawi this
may be a case of too little, too late.
“The official side does not want to
give opposition groups more than these
five points,” he said.
Meanwhile, Al Wefaq spokesman and
former MP Sayed Jameel Al Kadhem
said yesterday that his society had not
yet changed its mind about the prospect
of a boycott.
Candidates who want to contest next
month’s elections only have until October 19 to register an interest.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
n A notice displayed at the school entrance announcing Mr
Akram’s suspension
that the school board faced a
shuffle following the resignation of four of its seven-member board.
Former
chairman
Muhammed Ahmed Asif, Shah-
jahan Khan, Ghulam Mustafa
and Feroza Khan resigned citing “disappointment” with the
school system.
Education Ministry officials
did not respond yesterday.
Gulf Daily News
Friday, 10th October 2014
3
Walkathon to
raise cancer
awareness
MORE than 2,000 people
are expected to take part in a
walkathon that aims to raise
funds for and awareness of
cancer care at Al Ghous Corniche in Muharraq today.
Organised by the Bahrain
Cancer Society (BCS), the
annual ‘Run, Walk 4 Cancer’
event coincides with World
Breast Cancer Awareness
Month and is designed to
remind people of the importance of early detection.
Route
Participants in the walkathon face a 5.3km route,
with the event getting underway at 5.30pm.
It will start from the Muharraq side of the corniche
and will be followed by live
performances from 6.30pm.
A sale will also be held to
raise funds.
Registration is open from
4pm to 5pm and costs BD2,
including a T-shirt and a ticket for a raffle draw that will
be held at 6.45pm.
For more information, contact event organiser Adnan Al
Qassab on 39132102.
Activist to go
on trial over
Twitter posts
OPPOSITION activist Nabeel Rajab will stand trial for
allegedly insulting two government institutions.
He was arrested over Twitter posts that claimed security services were responsible
for the emergence of Bahraini extremists who joined
the radical Islamic State (IS)
group in Iraq and Syria.
The Public Prosecution
concluded its investigation
yesterday and transferred
the case to the Lower Criminal Court, where Mr Rajab
is due to appear on October
19.
“An investigation has been
concluded in a complaint filed
by the Interior Ministry and
Defence Ministry against a
person who published insulting comments towards both
ministries,” read a Public
Prosecution statement.
“He claimed people from
these institutions were joining terrorist groups abroad
and claimed these institutions
have a terrorism ideology.”
Drive highlights
effects of drugs
n Bahrain resident Paige Baker has been named the winner of singing competition The Vocalist. She received $1,500 at the finale of the show, held at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel’s Harvesters venue. Runners-up were Cherryl Sanchez and Trixie Lamenero, who were presented with $1,000 and $700 respectively. Above, Ms Baker,
front row second from left, with other winners and organisers.
A CAMPAIGN to raise
awareness about substance
abuse and drug trafficking
was held at Seef Mall.
The event, organised by
the mall in collaboration with
the Interior Ministry, was attended by Capital Governor
Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.
It aimed to teach people
about the dangerous effects of
narcotics and alcohol abuse
on the physical well-being.