DUSHANBE, May 26, 2009, Asia-Plus  - The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) yesterday refused an application by the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) for replacement of Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), whose powers were terminated last month ahead of schedule, by another party member.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Muhibullo Dodojonov, an official with the CCER, said that in accordance with the legislation, another member of the IRPT cannot replace Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda in the parliament today because only some eight months remain till the next parliamentary elections.  “Under the law, the parliament composition cannot be changed less then one year before the next parliamentary elections,” the CCER official said.

In the meantime, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, a spokesman for the IRPT, noted that the party did not agree with that decision.  “The point is that this law notes that by-elections to the parliament cannot be held less than one year before the next parliamentary elections,” said Sayfullozoda, “In the meantime, we just ask to replace Himmatzoda, who was elected to the Majlisi Namoyandagon through the IRPT list, by another party member from this list.  According to him, they intend to appeal against the CCER’s decision to refuse their application.

As it had been reported earlier, deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon on April 22 endorsed resolution on early termination of powers of deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda for health matters.

We will recall that Himmatzoda, who is spiritual leader of the IRPT, released a statement on April 14, in which he said he intends to vacate his seat in parliament.  He resigned in protest after some his benefits had been revoked.  Mr. Himmatzoda, who is unable to walk, was refused transport services that had been previously provided to him after he wrote articles critical of the country''s controversial new law on religion and religious associations.

Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda was elected to the Majlisi Namoyandagon through the IRPT list.  The IRPT has two seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon – Muhiddin Kabiri and Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda; both of them came to the parliament from the party list.

Of 63 seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon, 22 seats come from party lists. The remainder is elected in first-past-the-post races.  The Islamic Revival Party had a party list of only 15 candidates for the 2005 parliamentary elections, while 20 of the party’s representatives ran individual constituencies.