DUSHANBE, April 14, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) also spiritual leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda, who was elected through the IRPT list, intends to vacate his seat, a statement released by  him today said.

In the statement, Mr. Himmatzoda, in particular, noted that he had repeatedly sent in his resignation for health reasons but the Majlisi Namoyandagon speaker had allegedly refused his resignation application having justified that by saying that “I am sick and I should use PM privileges for treatment.”

However, after Himmatzoda criticized a new religion law that was adopted last month in print media, the parliament leadership ordered to take away his business car, according to the statement.

“Therefore, I now think that the parliament leadership’s decision to refuse my resignation application was not manifestation of politeness as I thought before.  They just do not want a new active member of our party to come to the parliament instead me,” the statement said.

“Moreover, I do not want to be deputy of the parliament after adoption of the new religion law that contradicts my spiritual creed,” Mr. Himmatzoda said.

In the meantime, Muhibullo Dodojonov, an official with the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), told Asia-Plus today that in accordance with the legislation, another member of the IRPT cannot replace Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda today because only 10 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,” said Dodojonov, “Moreover, the CCER has not yet received an official confirmation of resignation of Mr. Himmatzoda.”

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.

We will recall that 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.