Qasim summoned to police headquarters

Leader of Jumhoory Party (JP), Maamingili MP Qasim Ibrahim has been summoned to police headquarters for questioning.

Police have made no comment, but an official from JP has confirmed to “Sun” that Qasim has been summoned to police headquarters at 8:30 pm, this Wednesday.

It is not clear what the summons is regarding.

The summons comes aftertop political leaders Qasim, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and imprisoned Adhaalath Party Leader Imran Abdulla announced an alliance to work against President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The alliance is currently working on a no-confidence motion to oust Speaker and Deputy Speaker of People’s Majlis.

A no-confidence vote was taken on Speaker of People’s Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed on March 27.

During the debate on the no-confidence motion, Majority Leader, Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik alleged issues with the Majlis’ electronic voting system and proposed a roll-call vote instead.

Majlis regulation dictates that any form of voting other than electronic voting can only be used if an issue with the electronic voting system is definitively identified.

Nihan’s proposal passed with a vote taken using the electronic voting system.

This caused an uproar within the Majlis, with lawmakers from Maldivian Democratic Party, Jumhoory Party, and the faction within ruling Progressive Party of Maldives loyal to former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom protesting a roll-call vote was irregular in the circumstance.

13 of the protesting lawmakers were named, and were either forcibly removed from the Majlis by Maldives National Defense Force officers or walked out on their own accord when the officers intervened.

The remaining opposition lawmakers had walked out of the Majlis chamber, leaving only government-aligned lawmakers at the chamber when the roll-call vote was conducted to decide the fate of Maseeh.

The no-confidence motion failed with 48 lawmakers remaining in the chamber unanimously voting to keep Maseeh in his seat.

The opposition has vowed to re-submit a no-confidence motion against Maseeh.