MPs reject House panel’s draft code of conduct

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday rejected a draft code of conduct submitted by its Behaviour and Order Committee, with 52 MPs voting “nay” out of the 83 present in the meeting.

During the session, three MPs — Abdul Karim Dughmi, Nidal Hiari and Samir Oweis — proposed annulling the document, as the Lower House Rules of Procedure covers all the issues included in the code of conduct. Hence, they said, there is no need for this document.

Wafa Bani Mustafa, who heads the Behaviour and Order Committee, tried to convince the deputies that the code of conduct will not restrict their legislative and monitoring roles. 

She noted that the document was the first outcome of the committee’s work.  

However, the deputies were not convinced and a majority rejected the proposed document.

After the vote, the MPs started their deliberations over the draft juvenile law, endorsing certain provisions.

The MPs set the definition of teenagers as those who are aged between 12 and 15 years, while classifying the 15 to 18 age bracket as boys and girls. The draft categorises both segments as juveniles.

The MPs are scheduled to convene on Sunday to complete their deliberations over the bill.