(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The Lower House on Wednesday turned down a request by a group of MPs to discuss "abusive remarks" allegedly made by Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Khaled Toukan to describe those opposing Jordan's projected nuclear programme.
During a session, a majority of MPs declined to look into the "insulting remarks against Jordanians" that were attributed to Toukan in an audio recording published recently by several news websites as requested by a group of deputies.
On May 16, 45 deputies out of the 120-strong House submitted a memorandum to the speaker's office, requesting a general discussion of what they described as Toukan's insulting remarks against all Jordanians. They also insisted that Toukan's services be terminated.
Zarqa MP Ali Khalayleh noted that a lawsuit has been filed against Toukan for his abusive remarks by several people and thus deputies cannot discuss the issue as it is being looked into by the judiciary.
Khalayleh, whose argument was supported by an overwhelming majority of MPs, also said Toukan did not insult Jordanians as some claim.
Controversy has arisen recently over an audio recording recently published by several news websites in which Toukan allegedly referred to critics of the nuclear programme as "donkeys and garbage men".
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Sharary Shakhanbeh, who attended the session, noted that Toukan, when asked by Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh about the issue, said that the abusive comments attributed to him are absolutely untrue, refuting as baseless that he insulted the Jordanian people.
Shakhanbeh also said Toukan expressed readiness to attend a House session and defend himself and apologise to deputies.
In a statement carried by local media recently, Toukan charged that the recordings were fabricated by people who sought to undermine the nuclear programme.
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