Committee passes to summon Nasheed to a meeting in Singapore

The temporary committee, formed under a resolution presented to the parliament to investigate the activities of former President Mohamed Nasheed’s government in violation of the constitution, has passed during an emergency meeting to summon Nasheed to the committee.

The committee, in which pro-government parties hold majority, said that the meeting will be held in Singapore to ensure the safety of the committee members. The meeting is scheduled for 10 February.

The temporary committee is made up of seven members, following a resolution submitted by Kaashidhoo MP Abdullah Jabir when he was a member of Jumhooree Party. The resolution was submitted to fulfil his campaign promise, where he said that ‘action will be taken against Nasheed through the parliament’. Jabir previously acted as the Committee Chairman. However he lost this post when he joined Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed was appointed as the new chairperson at the emergency committee meeting held last night.

The decision to summon Nasheed to the committee was passed with three votes in favour, out of four members present at the meeting. The member who voted against this motion was MDP Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader, Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed.

The members who voted in favour of summoning Nasheed to the committee were Vili-Maafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, Kin’bidhoo MP Moosa Ramiz and Fares-Maathoda MP Ibrahim Mutthalib.

The second decision made by the committee last night was to summon the four members of the Judicial Reform Commission formed by Nasheed, to the committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday night. The members of the commission are Supreme Court Judge Ahmed Mu’uthasim Adnan, High Court Judge Ahmed Shareef, MDP Legal Committee Chairman Ahmed Abdullah Afeef and Mahchangolhi-north MP Mariya Ahmed Didi.

It was also decided at last night’s meeting to request the President’s Office for information on the activities of Nasheed’s government mentioned in the resolution submitted by Jabir.

Jabir presented the resolution against Nasheed to the parliament on the day he took oath as an MP after he won the Kaashidhoo seat by contesting – with the support of the pro-government parties - in the election for Kaashidhoo constituency as a candidate of Jumhooree Party.

The resolution notes that Nasheed threatened and influenced judicial institutions, locked up the Supreme Court, issued illegal orders which were in conflict with court rulings, and issued orders to carry out illegal activities against Judges.

The resolution also mentions that former President Nasheed, who was also the Commander in Chief, illegally ordered the arrest of several MPs, misused the government budget, disregarded equality of citizens and prioritised the needs of people of a certain political view and encouraged hostility and anger in the society.

While this committee where majority is held by pro-government parties has decided to summon Nasheed, the Parliament Government Oversight Committee where MDP holds majority has decided to hold a committee meeting in N. Maafaru.