Sharjah Ruler opens council's session

Sharjah leader appears at council meeting for the first time since having surgery.

SHARJAH // The Ruler of Sharjah, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, yesterday made his first public appearance since returning from surgery in France when he opened the seventh session of the Sharjah Consultative Council.

The Ruler was greeted by ministers and dignitaries as he walked to his seat. After the opening Quranic verses and a preamble about the history of the council, Sheikh Sultan gave a one-sentence speech officially opening the session.

"In the name of God the most gracious, I am opening this seventh session of the Sharjah Consultative Council for the legal year 2012 on Thursday the twelfth of January, and wish all of you an active deliberating council," he said.

Earlier in the day, the 42 council members voted on their new speaker and deputy speaker.

Mohammed Juma bin Hendi beat seven competitors by taking 22 votes out of 42 to become the council's seventh speaker.

The race for deputy speaker was more closely contested and required a second round of voting. In the first round, a female member, Sheikha Obaid Al Sabuusi, gained the most votes - 15 - followed by Ali Misbah Al Katbi with 10 votes and two other men.

However, Mr Hendi, conducting the vote in his new role as speaker, said that the rules required the leading candidate to receive 50 per cent of the votes to avoid a run-off with the second-placed candidate.

Mr Al Katbi won the run-off with 21 votes to Sheikha Obaid's 19. Two votes were nullified.

Had Sheikha Obaid won, she would have become the first female deputy speaker.

"I missed out on making this history, but I was happy to have made him sweat for the seat," Sheikha Obaid said after the council session. "We are all like brothers and sisters in the council, so I congratulate him and hope he serves the people who have trusted him well."

The council will hold sessions every Thursday starting in two weeks.