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 formed a committee to examine the status of Kirkuk within the context of Iraq's federal system, with Hashim al-Shibli, the Sunni Arab Justice Minister, at its helm.