Court to rule on PKB conflict soon

JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court will deliver its judgment on Aug. 10 on the lawsuit filed by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab against the current leadership of the National Awakening Party (PKB), chief justice I Wayan Rena said on Wednesday.

Alwi filed the lawsuit after he was suspended last year by the party's central board following his appointment as a minister in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet.

Alwi's lawsuit marked the heightening of the conflict within PKB, which in April elected a new leadership under Muhaimin Iskandar. The government has officially acknowledged the leadership under Muhaimin, following a Supreme Court edict saying that a new party leadership should be registered despite the ongoing internal conflict.

The government, however, said the registration was subject to review should a court verdict rule against the new leadership. -- Antara