Security forces summoned to parliament committee following cessation of election support

The Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions has decided to summon the security forces, following the decision by the police to cease providing support for the elections to the Elections Commission following the Supreme Court injunction, ordering to postpone the second round of the presidential election.

Chairman of the Independent Institutions Committee, Ahmed Sameer, said that the Elections Commission had expressed concern following the decision by the police to cease providing support for the elections.

“The Supreme Court ordered to postpone the election, not to stop preparations for the election. Supreme Court might issue an order tonight or tomorrow, to proceed with the election. So by ceasing to provide support, the police are obstructing the election,” said Dhidhdhoo MP, Ahmed Sameer.

The officials summoned to the committee at 8:30 p.m. are Acting Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Ahmed Shafeeu, Commissioner of Police Abdulla Riyaz, Minister of Defence Mohamed Nazim, Major General Ahmed Shiyam, and President of Police Integrity Commission (PIC) Abdulla Waheed.

Secretary General of the Elections Commission Asim Abdul Sattar was summoned to a committee meeting, held in secret, this afternoon.

Sameer said that the committee meetings have to be held in secret to ensure a suitable environment, because some MPs create unrest. In this regard, he said that damage was caused to some equipment in the room by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed at today’s committee meeting as well.

The Independent Institutions Committee had also decided to summon the Judicial Services Commission's sub-committee looking to into the leaked sex video of allegedly implicating Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed Mohamed, to inquire about the delay in the sub committee's investigation.

Sameer said that some members of the sub-committee had informed that they will not be able to attend the parliament committee meeting tonight.

Police stated that they will heed the Supreme Court injunction, and thus, have ceased assisting Elections Commission in all their requests regarding the election. Police said that their decision to heed the order has been duly communicated with the Elections Commission’s coordinating committee.