National Security Committee decides to summon Elections Commission and security forces

The Parliamentary Committee on National Security has decided to summon the Elections Commission, the police, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission to the committee.

This was passed unanimously by the four members present at a meeting of the committee held this afternoon.

The members who participated in the vote were Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group’s Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim, Dhaandhoo MP Mohamed Riyaz, Manadhoo MP Mohamed Tharig, and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Parliamentary Group’s Thulusdhoo MP Rozaina Adam.

Committee Chairperson, Hulhu-Henveyru MP Reeko Moosa Manik did not participate in the vote.

Elections Commission has been summoned for 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, while the police, MNDF, and Broadcasting Commission has been summoned for 4:00 p.m.

The National Security Committee, in which MDP holds majority, is investigating a case field by the Elections Commission against Jumhooree Party (JP).

Presenting the letter sent by the Elections Commission to the committee, Chairperson Reeko Moosa Manik said that the Elections Commission wished to share its concerns with the committee regarding the spread of baseless claims via the media against the commission, by JP.

The committee decided to summon the Broadcasting Commission for questioning regarding the spread of information to incite hatred in the society against the commission by a particular media group.

The police and MNDF are being summoned to find out if current events pose a threat to national security, said the committee.

Meanwhile, the Broadcasting Commission has initiated an investigation against the TV channel run by V Media, owned by JP’s presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim, for broadcasting content against the code of practice of broadcasting.

Six members were absent from today’s meeting of the committee, which is made up of a total of 11 members.