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Lebanon: Disputes Emerge Between FPM, Hezbollah

Supporters carry Hezbollah and Amal Movement flags as they ride in a convoy past a poster depicting Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Mohamed Raad, as votes are being counted in Lebanon's parliamentary election, in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon May 15, 2022. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah
Supporters carry Hezbollah and Amal Movement flags as they ride in a convoy past a poster depicting Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Mohamed Raad, as votes are being counted in Lebanon's parliamentary election, in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon May 15, 2022. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah
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Lebanon: Disputes Emerge Between FPM, Hezbollah

Supporters carry Hezbollah and Amal Movement flags as they ride in a convoy past a poster depicting Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Mohamed Raad, as votes are being counted in Lebanon's parliamentary election, in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon May 15, 2022. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah
Supporters carry Hezbollah and Amal Movement flags as they ride in a convoy past a poster depicting Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Mohamed Raad, as votes are being counted in Lebanon's parliamentary election, in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon May 15, 2022. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah

For the first time since the signing of the Mar Mkhayel Agreement in 2006, a dispute emerged between former President Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Hezbollah.

The conflict between the two sides was publicly announced in the media on Monday, following the participation of Hezbollah’s ministers in a cabinet meeting called for by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to make some “emergency” decisions.

The FPM, which had announced its boycott of the session, strongly criticized the party, saying that its participation in the ministerial meeting has “shaken” the Mar Mkhayel agreement.

In a press conference, the head of the FPM, MP Gebran Bassil, said: “Our problem is with the truthful ones who reneged on the agreement, the promise and the guarantee,” hinting at Hezbollah.

The party responded, in a statement on Thursday, saying that the FPM’s behavior as “unwise and inappropriate.”

“We don’t want to engage into a debate with any of our friends, although much of what was mentioned in Minister Bassil’s words needs discussion. We find ourselves concerned with clarifying two issues for the public opinion. The first is that Hezbollah did not make a promise to anyone that the caretaker government would not meet until all its components agreed to meet, so that Minister Bassil would consider that the government meeting that took place is a breach of the promise,” the statement read.

It added: “The language of treachery… especially among friends, is unwise and inappropriate behavior. Our concern for friendship… remains the basis of our dealings with any reaction, especially since Lebanon today is in dire need of communication, dialogue and internal discussion… to overcome difficult crises…”

On Thursday, the two parties tried to mitigate the impact of the crisis, when Hezbollah’s MP, Ali Fayyad, said: “We are not engaging into a discussion about the future of the relationship with the FPM.”

Other signs pointed to an attempt to mend the relations, including a meeting between Hezbollah MPs Ali Ammar and Hassan Fadlallah, with FPM MPs Bassil and Ghassan Atallah.

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Arab World

Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.