Revision proposed to allow 15 minutes to inform Speaker of MP arrests

Galolhu Dhekunu MP Ahmed Mahloof has proposed a revision to the Parliament Rules of Procedure, to allow 15 minutes to inform the Speaker of Parliament of the arrest of an MP.

Mahloof first proposed that the Speaker of Parliament should be informed within 12 hours of the arrest of an MP; however after discussion with some MPs, he changed the time allowed to 15 minutes instead.

Article 202(b) of the Parliament Rules of Procedure stipulates that the Speaker of Parliament should be informed prior to taking an MP under arrest.

Presenting the proposition, Mahloof said that Police face difficulties in informing the Speaker before arresting MPs who commit crimes.

He argued that article 17(a) of the Constitution stipulates that all citizens are equal before the law, and that it is not practical that the Speaker has to be informed before an MP is taken under arrest.

Mahloof stated that 12 hours is sufficient time for the Police to inform the Speaker of an MP’s arrest.

He went on to say that during former President Nasheed’s government, he was arrested on 15 different occasions, and it was not an issue at the Parliament back then.

However now that MDP is attempting to obstruct the Parliament by making this an issue, he decided to propose this revision to the Parliament regulations.

Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid urged the Police via a statement yesterday to follow the Parliament regulations when taking MPs under arrest.

He stressed that the Speaker of Parliament must, as stipulated in the Parliament Rules of Procedure, be informed if an MP is taken under arrest, because this regulation follows under article 88 of the Constitution and had been passed by the Parliament.

Commissioner of Police Abdullah Riyaz said last Thursday that the Speaker can be informed only in the event that an MP is arrested following a court order during the investigation process.

He pointed out that MPs are arrested for breaking the law during protests, and because these arrests are not planned, it is impossible to inform the Speaker before they are arrested.