Khazali intervened over PMF officer’s arrest, Sadiqoun deputy says

BAGHDAD — Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali intervened with Coordination Framework leaders after the arrest of a PMF intelligence officer this week, leading to his transfer into PMF custody, the deputy head of the group’s parliamentary bloc said — a rare criticism of the government from a faction that has backed its weapons policy.

Arrest warrants involving PMF personnel should go to the force’s own security directorate rather than being executed by another agency, Ahmed al-Mousawi told Alahad TV. “When a force from another security agency intervenes — such as a force from the Defense Ministry going out to arrest an officer in the Interior Ministry, or vice versa — a crisis will undoubtedly arise,” he said. “This flaw was addressed after the intervention of His Eminence Secretary-General Sheikh Qais al-Khazali and a group of Coordination Framework leaders.” He compared the handling to arrests under former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, saying errors then had caused tensions and confusion.

Mousawi also attached conditions to disarmament. “In principle, there is no party today, whether a resistance faction or a political party, that objects to the necessity of weapons being in the hands of the state,” he said. “But the discussion centers on the mechanism, and whether this state is actually capable of preserving sovereignty, applying the law throughout Iraq, responding to attacks and protecting the mujahideen who carried weapons and defended the country.” Agreement would follow “when the state’s capabilities are complete, foreign forces withdraw and guarantees are secured against violations of sovereignty.”

Abbas al-Yaqoubi, PMF intelligence director for Baghdad Belt Operations and an intelligence official associated with Harakat al-Nujaba, was detained by Counter-Terrorism Service forces in Dhi Qar and cleared by the judiciary on Wednesday. After his release he accused U.S. envoy Tom Barrack of trying to control Iraq’s decision-making and said he would sue the National Intelligence Service.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq is among the factions that have moved toward compliance with the government’s plan to bring weapons under state control by Sept. 30, alongside Saraya al-Salam and the Imam Ali Battalions. Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada have refused while U.S. forces remain.