Parliament is suspended due to Shahid

Parliamentarians who participated in today’s meeting held at President’s Office to facilitate a stable setting to resume the presently suspended Parliament, have accused the Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid of lack of concern for the disruption of the Parliament, following Shahid’s failure to be present at today’s meeting.

The Leader of Jumhooree Party (JP) Gasim Ibrahim said that Shahid’s absence at a meeting which was initiated by Shahid himself, shows his lack of sincerity.

“We will not tolerate Shahid ruining the reputation of the Parliament, or destroying the Parliament,” Gasim said.

Gasim further said that even though the purpose of today’s meeting was to find ways to resume the Parliament, Parliamentarians of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) only talked about how power should be transferred back to MDP, and about outcomes of the report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI).

MDP Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed said at today’s meeting that holding early elections without any conditions is one solution to the current problem, and also proposed three ways for the government to respond to the CNI’s report when it is presented on 30 August.

He noted that MDP does not wish to keep the Parliament halted, and that MDP Parliamentarians will be present if a Parliament session is announced.

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Vaikaradhoo MP Ali Arif also criticised the Speaker of Parliament for being absent from today’s meeting, and said that the purpose of today’s meeting was not to facilitate the resumption of the Parliament, as the issues raised by MDP Parliamentarians at the meeting did not concern this issue.

Gaumee Party Parliamentary Group Leader Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed said that MDP’s assertion that it did not halt the Parliament, shows that the Parliament was in fact halted by the Speaker.

Today’s meeting was attended by Vice President Mohamed Waheeddeen, JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim, MDP Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Ali Waheed, PPM Parliamentary Group Leader Moosa Zameer, Gaumee Party Parliamentary Group Leader Riyaz Rasheed, DRP Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Abdullah Mausoom, and PPM Parliamentary Group Deputy Leader Ali Arif.