Police probe violent altercation between MPs at parliament

Maldives Police Service states they are probing the violent altercation that broke out between MPs during Sunday’s parliamentary sitting that initially had the approval of the cabinet ministers on the agenda.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday – Chief Superintendent of Police Ahmed Nafiz said the case was submitted to the police by the parliament secretariate and the injured MP.

He added that the case is under investigation.

“The parliament and the injured parliamentarian have submitted some of the incidents that took place at the parliament amid the parliamentary work on the approval of the cabinet ministers for investigation, therewith Maldives Police Service is investigating these incidents,” Nafiz said.

He also noted having received cases regarding threats against some MPs, who have requested protection. Nafiz said efforts are being made to provide protection for those MPs.

Initially, an extraordinary sitting was scheduled for Sunday with the vote on the 22-member new cabinet on schedule. But just ahead of the vote, the MDP parliamentary group convened for a meeting, during which it issued a three-line red whip to withhold support to four government ministers.

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

This prompted protests from pro-government MPs which hindered the sitting from proceeding. This eventually escalated to violence which saw the ruling PPM-PNC coalition’s Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem get injured.