DUSHANBE, January 16, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Powers of deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Hayot Odinayev, who represented the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the parliament, will be terminated ahead of schedule in connection with his appointment as Chancellor of Tajik National University.

This issue was reportedly considered at a meeting of the board (Shuro) of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, presided over by the Majlisi Namoyandagon head Shukurjon Zuhurov, which took place on January 16.

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says the board also considered the draft laws on additional education, environmental examination and transportation safety as well as the bills requiring amendments to the country’s laws on weapons and executing the criminal punishment.

All these issues will be considered at the next regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation that will take place on January 19.

It is to be noted that Hayot Odinayev came to the parliament from the party list, and therefore, there will be no by-election, he will be just replaced by Abdurahmon Khonov, an official with the Committee on Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs, who follows him on 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.