Iraq’s Planning Ministry has officially upgraded the status of Jalawla from a sub-district to a full district. The decision came through an order issued by acting minister Khaled al-Najm on Monday. This administrative change elevates the town within the borders of Diyala province. The move follows a provincial council vote from January of last year. However, the decision has immediately sparked significant political opposition from multiple parties.
The planning ministry defended its decision by citing developmental advantages for the area. Officials point to Jalawla’s connections with other provinces as a key factor. Therefore, they also highlight promising economic and agricultural settlements in the region. Tourism potential near Lake Hamreen further justifies the upgrade according to Baghdad. The ministry frames this as a step toward better administrative organization.
Jalawla previously existed as a sub-district under the larger Khanaqin district. Furthermore, the area falls within Iraq’s disputed territories covered by Article 140 of the constitution. This article outlines a process to resolve areas contested between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Any administrative change in these zones automatically raises political sensitivities. Kurdish parties view such moves with deep suspicion and concern.
Nine members of the Diyala provincial council have now formally opposed the decision. This group represents an absolute majority of the fifteen member council. Moreover, they sent a formal letter to the acting planning minister requesting a halt. The letter dated February 22 calls for suspending all administrative procedures. It references a similar recent decision concerning the Saadiya sub-district.
Sherko Mirways heads the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan branch in Khanaqin. He confirmed that a majority of council members signed the opposition document. The governor received this letter and forwarded it to the ministry in Baghdad. Members from both the Badr bloc and the PUK signed the request. This shows cross-faction opposition to the administrative change.
Diyala Governor Adnan al-Shamari issued his own order on the same day. He directed officials to suspend implementation of the upgrade immediately. The suspension remains in effect until the planning ministry responds formally. Furthermore, this temporary halt prevents any practical changes on the ground. It gives time for political negotiations to address the concerns raised.
Iraqi lawmaker Nazk Ahmed represents the Khanaqin area in parliament. She belongs to the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc in Baghdad. Ahmed stated that the opposition rests on constitutional grounds. She argued that Jalawla clearly falls under Article 140 protections. Therefore any status change requires a different process according to her.
The planning ministry estimates the new district’s population at approximately ninety-four thousand people. An additional forty thousand residents from Saadiya sub-district will join them. Therefore, these numbers factor into the administrative calculations for the upgrade. The ministry believes the area meets requirements for district status. Opponents dispute whether the population threshold actually exists.
This controversy echoes a similar attempt from last July. The ministry previously tried to upgrade the Qaratapa sub-district. Also, that move also faced significant political opposition from Kurdish representatives. The pattern suggests a broader strategy regarding disputed territories. Each administrative change faces scrutiny from those protecting Article 140 rights.
Aws al-Mahdawi serves as the sole PUK representative on the provincial council. He previously described such decisions as purely political in nature. He argues that these areas should not face administrative tampering. Therefore, the population does not meet the four hundred thousand threshold he claims. This technical argument provides additional grounds for opposition.
The upgrade was first announced publicly by Omar al-Karawi on Thursday. He serves as chairman of the Diyala provincial council. Karawi belongs to the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance political grouping. His announcement caught many Kurdish representatives by surprise. They immediately mobilized to challenge the decision through official channels.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over Iraq’s disputed internal boundaries. Administrative changes in these areas carry significant political weight. Kurdish parties view such moves as demographic alteration attempts. Moreover, they fear gradual changes that could weaken their territorial claims. The constitution provides Article 140 as the proper mechanism for resolving status.
For now the upgrade remains suspended pending ministerial review. The coming weeks will determine whether Baghdad overrules the local opposition. Political factions continue lobbying behind closed doors for their positions. The fate of Jalawla’s new status hangs in bureaucratic limbo. Both sides await the planning ministry’s formal response to the council’s request.
