Ongoing Contacts to Discuss Referral of Abdul Wahed’s Killing to Judicial Council
Prime Minister Najib Miqati held several meetings on Monday to discuss the possibility of referring the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahed and his companion to the Judicial Council.
“The ministers will vote on the issue just like all the other decision taken by the cabinet,” Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi told reporters at the Grand Serail after meeting with the premier.
Miqati also discussed with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji the security situation in the country.
Earlier, As Safir newspaper quoted the Prime Minister as saying: “Critical consultations are ongoing to resolve the issue.”
He pointed out that the decision whether to refer the killing of Abdul Wahed and his companion Sheikh Mohammed Merheb to the Judicial Council or not will become clear before Monday’s cabinet session.
On May 20, Abdul Wahed and his companion were killed at an Army checkpoint in in the Akkar town of al-Kweikhat.
Protests broke out on Friday in light of a decision to release on bail three army officers and eight soldiers who were detained over the case, while five others remain under arrest.
Angry residents in Akkar condemned the decision and blocked roads in protest.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun refuses to refer the matter to the Judicial Council.
Aoun announced on Saturday the “military court in Lebanon is authorized to achieve justice regarding the case.”
The matter is expected to create another dispute among the cabinet members as al-Liwaa newspaper reported that the ministers of National Struggle Front, led by Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, would cooperate with the demands of the supporters of Abdul Wahed.
According to the daily, the stance of AMAL and Hizbullah ministers remains vague.
For his part, Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Khaled Zahraman told Free Lebanon radio that Akkar MPs will hold a meeting with President Michel Suleiman to demand the referral of the killing to the Judicial Council.
On Sunday, Akkar MP Khaled al-Daher, who is a member of al-Mustaqbal bloc, warned of civil disobedience if the cabinet failed to refer the case to the Council.
He also threatened to stage a sit-in outside Miqati’s residence and the Grand Serail until justice is achieved.
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