Parliament Speaker has not yet made a decision on summon of Judges: Councillor General

Councillor General of the Parliament Fathimath Filza has said that the Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid has not yet made a decision in relation to the summon of Judges of Hulhumale’ Court by the Parliament Committee on Government Accountability.

In an interview with Sun Online, she explained that the order to summon the Judges to the Committee on Government Accountability was made to the Speaker of Parliament; however, the Speaker has not yet received this order.

“The Committee’s order was addressed to the Speaker of Parliament. The process is that the Speaker will sign the order and make a decision as soon as he receives it. The Speaker has not yet made this decision; he will do so after studying the order, when he receives it,” Filza, who assumed the post of providing legal advice to the Parliament at the end of last year, told Sun Online.

She also informed that the Speaker of Parliament will issue a press statement tonight once he makes the decision.

The Parliament Committee on Government Accountability, in which Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) holds majority, passed the decision today in a secret meeting, to summon the three Judges appointed to preside over the trial against former President Mohamed Nasheed.

After the meeting, Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed said that the decision was based on a judgment of the Supreme Court, which indicates that ‘every Parliament Committee has the mandate to summon any person’.

It has not yet been possible to contact Supreme Court in relation to this matter. However, it is stipulated in article 141 of the Constitution, “No officials performing public functions, or any other persons, shall interfere with and influence the functions of the courts.”