Mustaqbal Calls on FPM to Disavow Karam over 'His High Treason'

The al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called on the Free Patriotic Movement to “disavow” retired Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam, who was sentenced Saturday by the Military Court to two years in jail on charges of spying for Israel.

“The verdict issued against Fayez Karam requires the FPM to quickly disavow him due to his high treason,” the bloc said.

Tackling the controversial issue of the electricity plan proposed by Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil, the bloc said “neither the country nor the successive Lebanese governments had ever witnessed a case of blackmail such as that being practiced by the energy minister and his political movement.”

“Is it reasonable that development and improvement plans concerning a key issue that requires major expenditure be put forward in such an incomplete, rushed manner, which lacks the minimum level of needed transparency,” the bloc wondered in a statement issued after its weekly meeting at the Center House.

The bloc accused Bassil of being “arrogant and intransigent.”

Bassil’s “objective has become clear: evading the supervision of Arab and international funds,” al-Mustaqbal charged.

Addressing the latest controversy over bloc MP Khaled al-Daher’s remarks on the army, the conferees said “the al-Mustaqbal Movement believes that the Lebanese army and the Lebanese security institutions … should have the exclusive right to bear arms, protect the country and preserve security.”

“But that does not mean we must remain mum concerning some necessary remarks” about the army’s role, the bloc added.

Separately, the bloc saluted “the martyrs of the Syrian revolution and the freedom fighters and heroes who are shaping with their souls, voices and forearms the path of pride, dignity, development and liberation.”

It also lauded “the stance of Turkey, which has recalled its ambassador to the Zionist entity, lowered its diplomatic relations (with Israel) and suspended military and economic agreements.”