Debate on no-confidence motion against Attorney General begins

Parliament has commenced the debate on the motion of no confidence against Attorney General Azima Shakoor.

Speaker of the Parliament Abdulla Shahid said the Attorney General had not replied to the parliament's letter indicating that she is Constitutionally entitled to the right to defend himself in the sittings of the parliament, both orally and in writing.

Azima’s no-confidence motion was originally scheduled for October 27 Tuesday, but was postponed as the Attorney General informed the Speaker, via letter, that she was unwell.

The motion against Azima was filed by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson, Hulhu-Henveyru MP Reeko Moosa Maniik.

In his motion, MP Manik argued that the Attorney General had acted against the interests of the public in her intervention to the election case filed in Supreme Court by Jumhoory Party, which had eventually resulted in the court annulling the 7 September election.

MP Manik accused Azima of abusing the influence of her office to attain undue advantages by obstructing the transition of a new legal government. He also accused her of trying to manipulate the Commission of National Inquiry who investigated the legitimacy of the change of government in 7 February 2012.

In his motion, MP Manik also accuses Azima of trying to block the assistance of The Commonwealth, of producing unlawful legal opinions on the pretext of the powers of her office, and of attempts to undermine the powers of the parliament.