In August 2006 Maliki appointed a committee to "examine the status" of Kirkuk "in light of Iraq's federalist system", headed by the Sunni Arab Justice Minister Hashim al-Shibli.
In August 2006, Maliki appointed a committee to evaluate Kirkuk's situation in light of Iraq's federal structure, led by Justice Minister Hashim al-Shibli, who was a Sunni Arab.