Iraqi parliament votes to dismiss National Investment Commission head

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's parliament voted on Tuesday to remove Haydar Mekki from his post as head of the National Investment Commission. A brief statement issued by the parliament's media office said lawmakers decided to dismiss Mekki and referred all files related to the commission's performance to the Federal Integrity Commission. The decision followed in absentia sessions reviewing cases of alleged administrative and legal violations within the commission. Lawmaker Mansur al-Bayaci, who had previously raised the matter, said the commission chief had failed to appear before parliament to mount a defense and urged colleagues to press ahead with the dismissal under parliamentary procedures. The dismissal marks the latest step in a series of oversight efforts lawmakers have pursued against the commission. With the vote, Mekki's removal is now final, and case files on the alleged irregularities will be investigated by the Federal Integrity Commission. No further details were immediately available.