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Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid has informed Maldives Police Service that no Member of Parliament (MP) can be arrested just now, when no-confidence resolutions have been submitted to the Parliament for members of the government and independent institutions.

The Parliament was informed today by the Police, of the arrest of Kaashidhoo MP Abdullah Jabir and Henveiru-dhekunu MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor last night.

They were arrested in an uninhabited island under suspicion of using drugs and alcohol.

A statement issued by the Parliament Secretariat states that pursuant to article 220(d) of the Parliament Rules of Procedure, an MP shall not be arrested prior to making a decision on a resolution tabled to remove the President, Judges, members of independent institutions and independent officers from office.

The Parliament Secretariat advised Maldives Police to follow due procedures, as the approval of dismissal of President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and Civil Service Commission President Mohamed Fahmy Hassan are currently at the Parliament.

In addition to the two MPs, former President Mohamed Nasheed’s Special Advisor Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and former Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair were also arrested under the Police operation last night.