MDP protests near Supreme Court

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has held a protest near the Supreme Court, against the case filed by Jumhooree Party (JP) requesting to annul the results of the first round of the presidential election.

The protest was led by MDP members Feydhoo MP Alhan Fahmy and Maafannu-North MP Imthiyaz Fahmy.

Protesters gathered near Supreme Court area at around 4:00 p.m., and the crowd was dispersed by the police at around 5:30 p.m.

They protested against the request to annul the results of the first round of the election, and called to hold the second round of the presidential election on Saturday as scheduled.

No serious unrest took place, but some heated arguments took place between the protesters and the police officers who broke up the gathering. Three people were arrested.

JP has filed a case to Supreme Court, claiming that serious fraud was committed in the first round of the presidential election held on 7 September. The court has ordered the Elections Commission to present the list of registered voters to the court.

Testimonies have also been presented in court by 11 out of 20 witnesses presented by JP.

JP first filed the case alleging vote fraud to High Court. The High Court ordered the Elections Commission to allow JP to access the voters’ list, but the commission refused to allow officials of JP to view the list in a practical manner.

The Elections Commission said that MDP gained 45 percent, while PPM, JP and Dr Mohamed Waheed gained 25, 24 and 5 percent votes respectively in the first round of the presidential election.