PUK Seeks to Pass Halabja Provincialisation Bill Before 16 March

PUKMEDIA

Halabja Monument.

As the anniversary of the city's chemical weapons bombardment draws near, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) continues working to pass the bill to make Halabja a province in the Iraqi Parliament after all legal proceedings have been completed.

PUK bloc MP Chro Hama Sharif told PUKMEDIA that the PUK's efforts to pass the bill establishing Halabja province are ongoing.

"We have obtained the approval and support of most parliamentary blocs to vote on the bill and we are continuing our efforts until the law is legislated in the parliament," she said, noting that Halabja has completed all legal and administrative procedures and all that remains is to vote on the bill to officially recognise the city as a new province.

Sharif also stated that the PUK bloc seeks to pass the bill before the anniversary of the city's bombardment with chemical weapons, which was carried out by the fallen Iraqi Ba'ath regime on 16 March 1988.

On the anniversary of the chemical attack, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani gave Halabja a present of 1 billion dinars last year at the PUK bloc's request. The sum was eventually used to build the city's gate.



PUKMEDIA