Government: No intention of extending state of emergency

Maldivian government has said that it has no intention of extending the state of emergency declared in the country. 

At a press conference for foreign media outlets held at the President's Office today, the Legal Affairs Minister at the President's Office, Aishath Azima Shukoor said that the government does not intend to extend the state of emergency. 

A state of emergency was initially declared in the Maldives on 5 February 2018 for 15 days before it was extended by another 30 days. 

Azima said that the state of emergency is in effect for the people who were arrested in relation to the events of 1 February 2018. 

"You would have seen today that life in the Maldives in a normal state. No school or shop is closed. Offices and businesses are open and running." Azima told the foreign journalists present. 

Those arrested in relation to the Supreme Court ruling of 1 February include the former President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice, Abdulla Saeed and the Supreme Court Judge, Ali Hameed Mohamed. Maldives Police Service said that they have proof that ex-President Maumoon bribed two Supreme Court Judges.