PPM orders MPs to withdraw signatures on Maseeh no-confidence petition

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has ordered parliamentarians who signed the petition for a no-confidence motion against Speaker of People’s Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed to withdraw their signatures.

The order was issued in a letter sent by Deputy Secretary-General of PPM, Iqbal Adam to the parliamentarians who signed the petition.

They have been given until end of this Monday to withdraw their signatures.

The letter said endorsing such a petition while being a PPM parliamentarian was a violation of Articles 38 (a) and (b) of PPM Constitution. As well as a violation of Article 22 of PPM Parliamentary Group’s Standard Operating Practice.

Some of the parliamentarians who received the letter said that according to PPM’s Constitution, an individual was no longer considered a member of the party the moment he/she sends a letter requesting removal from the party to PPM’s office. They said they no longer considered themselves members of PPM, and that the party did not have any grounds to send such orders to non-members.