Venue for PNF closed ahead of assembly

Senior members of People's National Front (PNF) on Tuesday evening, said their event venue, Ghiyasuddin International School was closed ahead of the assembly for the party's formation.

PNF was founded by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom after he exited PPM.

Since Tuesday morning, PNF's top brass has alleged the current government was attempting to interrupt the party's assembly, and alleged the state had ordered to cut electricity from the school's hall ahead of the event.

At 21:15hrs when the party's general members and seniors attended the venue, SO Division officers of Maldives Police Service were already on site while the entrance for the school was shut.

The party's members protested against this and continued to voice their anger.

Speaking about the incident, former Minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal later said the party had received permission to hold its assembly in the school earlier, for which PNF already paid to book the venue.

He claimed the police intervention to a civil gathering violated the laws.

In response, Police Spokesperson Ahmed Shifan countered that school had not authorized PNF's assembly at its venue.

He added the Ministry of Education requested police intervention to ensure safety of the school.

Shifan further said the authority received the request around 18:42hrs on Tuesday evening.