MP queries family visa policy

KUWAIT CITY, June 10: MP Adnan Abdul-Samad has forwarded questions to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah on the nonrenewal of family visas (Article 22) issued to parents and siblings of expatriates residing in the country.

He wants to know the justifications for this decision, if there is a study in this regard, number of those covered by the decision, if it is part of the plan to control the population, and action taken against those who violated the Residency Law, marginal workers and visa traders.

He asked if the population control mechanism applies to the expatriate elderly or those with special needs who have been in this humanitarian country for decades, pointing out some of them were born in Kuwait and do not know any other country as they were forced by circumstances to stay with their children or siblings who are working here alongside the national manpower.

He also inquired about the annual fees charged by the Ministry of the Interior for the renewal of their residency and the total fees collected last year.

In another development, the Criminal Section in the Court of Appeals, headed

by Judge Ibrahim Al-Obaid, postponed until June 21 the announcement of its verdict on a case filed by the Public Prosecution against those who stormed the Parliament building – a total of 70 persons including 11 former and current MPs – to give the defense panel a chance to present their argument.

The prosecution charged these individuals with entering the Parliament building without permission, assaulting securitymen, and damaging some properties inside building. The defendants denied all the accusations.

Earlier, the Criminal Court acquitted the accused citing contradictory testimonies but the prosecution submitted a petition against the decision to the higher court.