The Iraqi government has withdrawn the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Retirement Law from Parliament, pending amendments to reduce the number of PMF members and leaders set for retirement. Reports suggest that political factions are attempting to pass the law alongside the Accountability and Justice Law as part of a broader legislative deal.
A government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani instructed the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to withdraw the PMF Service and Retirement Law to prevent legislative deadlock, as disputes over the bill had stalled parliamentary sessions for weeks.
Parliament was scheduled to meet on Tuesday afternoon, following a failed session on Saturday due to the lack of quorum. Shiite factions, particularly within the Coordination Framework, had insisted on including the PMF Retirement Law on the session’s agenda, delaying progress on other legislation.
The key point of contention within the Coordination Framework remains the retirement age stipulated in the bill. Reports indicate that the current provisions could force PMF Chairman Faleh Al-Fayyadh to step down. Al-Fayyadh has led the PMF since 2015, after being appointed by former Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi following the rise of ISIS in 2014.
The PMF, formed in 2014 in response to a religious decree by top Shiite religious authority Ali Al-Sistani, played a crucial role in the fight against ISIS. However, ongoing political discussions suggest efforts to restructure the force, particularly amid US pressure and the possibility of financial sanctions targeting individuals and groups within the organization.
While it remains unclear if the government’s move is directly linked to international pressures, the suspension coincides with Sunni factions pushing to pass the Accountability and Justice Law.
Parliamentary sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sunni parties are seeking to dismantle or significantly limit the powers of the Accountability and Justice Commission—which oversees De-Baathification policies—in exchange for supporting the PMF Retirement Law.
Established in 2005, the Accountability and Justice Commission led to the dismissal of thousands of former Baath Party members from government positions and the confiscation of their properties. Sunni parties argue that the law has been politically exploited to disqualify their candidates from elections.
Despite ongoing negotiations, lawmakers doubt that Parliament will reconvene during Ramadan, as disagreements over the PMF Retirement Law and the Accountability and Justice Law remain unresolved.
