PPM-PNC: Violence at parliament to be submitted to relevant authorities for investigation

Ruling PPM-PNC coalition states are undertaking efforts to submit the violent altercation at the parliament on Sunday to the relevant authorities for investigation.

In a statement released following the incident, PPM-PNC coalition accused opposition MDP MPs of unlawful physical contact with ruling coalition MPs and assaulting them which led to one of them sustaining a laceration to the head.

The statement further accused Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam, an MDP member, of not taking any action to intervene.

The coalition also called to ensure the safety and protection of MPs while arranging parliamentary sitting and ensure there is no leeway to cause chaos.

Following Sunday’s incidents, the coalition has also filed no-confidence motions against Speaker Aslam and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem.

An extraordinary sitting of the parliament was slated for Sunday, with the cabinet’s approval on the agenda. Ahead of the sitting, the main opposition MDP decided to withhold parliamentary approval to four ministers which prompted pro-government MPs to obstruct the sitting from proceeding. It eventually escalated to violence between pro-government MPs and opposition MPs that saw the ruling coalition’s Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem injured.

MDP passed a three-line red whip to withhold approval to four cabinet ministers, including the attorney general.

They are:

• Ahmed Usham, attorney general
• Mohamed Saeed, economic minister
• Dr. Ali Haidar, housing minister
• Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Islamic minister