Mazin Gharib Warns of Possible Government-Armed Group Clash
At a Glance
- The disarmament deadline is set for September 30
- Gharib doubts the deadline can be met
- PMF draft law is requested
- Clashes remain a possibility
Information obtained by Channel8 indicates that Iraqi Parliament Security and Defense Committee member Mazin Gharib believes completing the disarmament of armed groups before September 30 is not possible.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi: The prime minister has insisted that no weapons remain outside state control after September 30.
- Mazin Gharib: Completing the disarmament process within one month is “impossible.”
- On potential clashes: Gharib said a confrontation between the government and armed groups “cannot be ruled out.”
Mazin Gharib pointed out that the government does not have an exact figure for the size of the weapons stockpiles currently held by various armed groups. This lack of data naturally adds to the difficulty of completing the disarmament process within the remaining period.
In addition to these structural challenges, the Security and Defense Committee has also asked Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to send the draft law governing the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) directly to parliament within a strict two-week timeframe.
Once that proposal is submitted to the legislature, the draft is expected to be referred back to the committee for detailed review and formulation before any parliamentary action can take place.
Furthermore, Gharib mentioned that he does not expect parliament to vote on or approve the draft law anytime soon. Instead, he described the move as one aimed at satisfying various Shiite political factions.
He further explained that this initiative is intended to secure continued political support for al-Zaidi from the armed forces.
Gharib told Channel 8 that this formal request for the PMF draft law was made during the committee’s most recent meeting with al-Zaidi.
FYI
The discussion comes as the government seeks to consolidate security authority under state institutions while political forces debate the future legal framework governing the Popular Mobilization Forces and armed groups.
During his high-level meeting with the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Charles Brad Cooper, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi firmly reconfirmed that September 30 stands as the final and absolute deadline for the complete withdrawal of all U.S.-led coalition military forces from Iraqi territory.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister strongly emphasized that strictly limiting the possession and use of weapons to official state authorities is absolutely vital for protecting citizens, strengthening national sovereignty, and securing the long-term stability needed to drive economic development across the country.
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