Government rejects request to include Imran in dialogue

The government has rejected the request by Adhaalath Party (AP) to include its President Imran Abdulla in the planned discussions between the government and opposition parties.

This was announced by President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali, who tweeted this morning that the list of people appointed by AP for the discussions included a person who was in police custody, and that it was not possible for the government to grant this request.

"AP in hushahelhi nanfulhuge thereygai, fuluhunge bandhehgaivaa faraatheh himanuvvaafaivaathy mashvaraage furusathu dheveykah neiy" -im

— Ibrahim Muaz Ali (@SpokespersonMV) May 27, 2015

The discussions between the government and the three opposition parties, AP, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and Jumhooree Party (JP), will be aimed at finding solutions to the ongoing political unrest in the country.

The people appointed by AP for the discussions in addition to Imran are the party’s Vice President Dr Mauroof Hussain, Secretary General Mohamed Iyad Hameed, Member of Scholars’ Council Sheikh Mohamed Didi, and President of Review Committee Shidhatha Shareef.

The government also, on Monday, rejected MDP’s request to include former President Mohamed Nasheed in the discussions.

Nasheed is serving a 13-year prison sentence after being found guilty of terrorism in March 2015, in relation to the arrest of a judge back in 2012.

Muaz said earlier that the government will proceed with the discussions if the people appointed by the parties are free of legal, health-related, physical, and administrative obstructions.

The people appointed by Jumhooree Party (JP) for the discussions are the party’s Deputy Leader Ameen Ibrahim, Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed, Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Abdulla Riyaz, and Hussain Mohamed.