PPM election case verdict delayed

Supreme Court has delayed a verdict for the election related case filed by the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today (Tuesday).

Delaying the verdict indefinitely, Supreme Court stated that they have cancelled today’s hearing and that a date has not been decided.

PPM filed the case with the Supreme Court on 25th September asking for an order upon the Elections Commission (EC), directing the Commission ensure the safety of the ballot papers from the point of printing to being transported to, and from the voting stations on polling day.

The party also asked the court to order the EC to allow a two week period prior to the polling day, for voters to file complaints regarding the voters’ list.

PPM's third motion asked for an order to make it mandatory to have all presidential candidates’ names, signatures and fingerprints on the final voters’ list.

During the last hearing for the case on 26th September, PPM lawyer Ahmed Zaneen Adam told the court that names of minors (below 18) were included in the voters’ list, by changing their date of births.

He said that this was done to confer undue advantage on a particular group of people and further accused the Elections Commission of having violated the guidelines included in the court ruling on the case filed by PPM ahead of the presidential election.

Lawyer representing the EC Hussain Siraj told the court that the law already stipulates dates, binding the Commission to fulfill certain conditions prior the election day.

EC also filed a counter motion asking the court to declare that the orders requested by PPM cannot be issued under the current laws of the State.