Parliament still considers Fuad and Fayaz to be members of EC: Committee

Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions has said that it still considers Elections Commission President Fuad Thaufeeg and Vice President Ahmed Fayaz to be members of Elections Commission, despite the verdict whereby Supreme Court declared them disqualified as members of Elections Commission.

Speaking at a committee meeting tonight, Deputy Chairperson of Independent Institutions Committee Rozaina Adam said that based on the advice of Parliament Counsel General Fathimath Filza, Fuad and Fayaz are still members of Elections Commission.

Filza said in her advice that only the parliament has the authority to appoint and dismiss members to Elections Commission, and that the Supreme Court verdict was a violation of the Constitution and Elections Commission Law.

Rozaina said that Elections Commission members including Fuad and Fayaz have been summoned to the committee for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The committee has also summoned members of Judicial Services Commission (JSC) for 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Speaking on the motion submitted to the committee by three members of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor said that the Supreme Court verdict was unclear, and pointed out that the written verdict announced by the court later was inconsistent with the verdict delivered in court.