Bahrain to head to polls on November 12

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Close to 450 election observers will begin their poll duties as the election campaign season gradually enters the final phase.

The observers are representatives of Bahrain Lawyers Association, Human Rights Association, Bahrain Transparency Society, Manama Centre for Human Rights, the National Institution for Human Rights and many other related organizations.

The observers will monitor the entire electoral process to ensure that fairness is maintained at various stages under judicial supervision.

The electoral supervisory committee earlier warned candidates against mudslinging and tarnishing each other’s personal image for the sake of electoral victory.

“Such activities will be seen as a grave violation and the candidates if proven guilty will face consequences,” the warning said.

In another development, the Northern Governorate Police arrested an arson suspect who is accused of setting a candidate’s campaign office on fire.

The accused was arrested within an hour after the incident and an intensive probe has been launched.

The Northern Governorate Police Directorate said that the prescribed legal measures are being taken, in preparation for referring the case to the Public Prosecution.

Election campaign

Meanwhile, the election campaign is intensifying with many more candidates stepping up their canvassing programmes and strategies.

Heavyweight candidate and incumbent parliamentarian Ahmed Al Salloum inaugurated his electoral headquarters on Sunday in the presence of a large number of supporters, guests and invitees.

He said his candidature is in line with the Kingdom’s developmental goals and “there are many goals to be achieved together”.

Mr Al Salloum said he will be giving maximum emphasis on legislative initiatives to support the economic recovery plans kick-started by the Kingdom’s leadership and government.

He added that housing, healthcare, employment and infrastructural growth remain the four areas, which are pivotal for the nation’s growth.

The last week was filled with many shocks and surprises as many high-profile candidates lost their electoral appeals filed before the judiciary.

The High Civil Court of Appeal rejected the appeal filed by four-time lawmaker Adel Al Asoomi against the decision of the electoral supervisory committee, which had earlier dismissed his nomination.

Mr Al Asoomi’s candidature was rejected by the electoral committee after accepting the claims in the complaint filed by his opposing candidate Murad Ali Murad regarding discrepancies over residency.

Many other appeals were as well rejected by the court.

The appellants were Dr Sharaf Al Mazal, former lawmaker Ali Shamout and lawyer Muhammad Al Othman.

Earlier, Dr Sharaf had filed nominations for contesting from the Fourth Electoral Constituency in the Northern Governorate while Mr Muhammed filed his papers for the poll battle from Fourth Electoral Constituency in Muharraq Governorate.

Mr Ali was a potential candidate from the Sixth Electoral Constituency in the Capital Governorate.

The Kingdom will head to the polls on November 12 with a run-off fixed on November 19.