Rifi Remains Mum on Tenure Extension Reports, Says to Continue to Serve Nation

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi rejected on Friday to comment on reports saying that officials are mulling the extension of his tenure, which ends in April.

Rifi said in comments published in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa that the matter is a “political affair.”

“It's the same to me whether they extend my tenure or not... I will continue to serve the nation,” Rifi said.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Ziad al-Qaderi proposed recently an urgent draft-law to modify the retirement age of officers in leadership posts in the army, the Internal Security Forces and other security agencies.

According to the proposal, the age of retirement for Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji will increase to 63 years, while officers with Maj. General rank would be referred to retirement on the age of 62.

Rifi and Qahwaji's mandates end on April 1.

President Michel Suleiman has been also seeking to amend the age of retirement for the army commander, suggesting that it be raised to 62.

An agreement is needed between the March 8 majority coalition and the March 14 opposition over the extension proposal as it requires the cabinet to refer a bill to parliament for approval or an urgent draft-law proposed by at least 10 lawmakers to adopt it by an absolute majority.

Rifi has been the ISF chief for the past nine years.