Now is the time to unite and take legal action: Speaker of Parliament

Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid has called on all Members of Parliament to unite in this moment of sorrow, and work together on taking the necessary legal action against the perpetrators behind the brutal killing of Member of Parliament for Ungoofaaru constituency and religious scholar Dr Afrasheem Ali.

Shahid told reporters at ADK Hospital last night that all relevant authorities must work towards preventing similar crimes in the future.

“I call on MPs to unite, to take immediate legal action against this crime. They should come together, join forces. I urge the investigation authorities to find the perpetrators. We have to work together to prevent this happening again,” he said.

He said that we lost a Maldivian scholar last night, and prayed that God grant him heaven.

Shahid noted that Afrasheem was a sincere MP, who contributed greatly to the Parliament.

“The nation is in grief. I offer my sincere condolences to the people of Ungoofaaru which was represented at the Parliament by Dr Afrasheem,” he said.

Afrasheem was murdered at around 1:15 last night on the staircase as he arrived at home after participating in a program on TVM.

Today’s Parliament meeting has been postponed until tomorrow, and the President has decided to lower the national flag to half mast for three days.