Intensive Parliamentary Efforts to Prioritize PMF Law on Parliament's Agenda Post-Recess

A member of the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, MP Ahmed Al-Khazali, revealed a parliamentary initiative to collect signatures following the conclusion of the legislative recess of the Council of Representatives, aiming to include the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law project on the agenda of upcoming sessions. Al-Khazali affirmed in a statement that "this law justly recognizes a national segment which has made immense sacrifices to preserve Iraq's land and sovereignty." He stressed that "the bill is a crucial piece of legislation that must be prioritized by the Council of Representatives immediately upon resuming its legislative work." He added that "efforts are currently underway to gather the necessary signatures to ensure the draft law's inclusion in the Council's agenda, positioning it among the key issues for the initial sessions post-recess." The project, prepared during the fifth parliamentary term, comprises seventy-eight legal articles and requires some essential amendments before a vote can proceed. Al-Khazali clarified these moves stem from political blocs' preparations for a new legislative phase following the recess, driven by a strong desire to resolve numerous pending laws and files, particularly those concerning the nation's security and human rights institutions. Council of Representatives member Raja Fadel Aziz, for her part, emphasized that enacting the service and retirement law for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Authority represents an "indispensable national and moral entitlement," due to its guarantees for the legal rights of PMF members. Aziz stated that "ensuring justice for this segment is a national duty, particularly following the significant contributions and sacrifices made by PMF members in confronting terrorism and defending Iraq's unity and integrity." She asserted that "further procrastination in approving this law is no longer acceptable." She explained that the law aims to regulate service and retirement aspects, legally ensuring members' rights with clarity and transparency. Aziz stressed that the upcoming phase demands a firm parliamentary stance to expedite the law's approval and avoid continued postponement.