Ex-President calls on security forces to end parliament lockdown

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on police and military officers "who are loyal to the nation" to pressure the authorities to bring a halt to the investigations against parliamentarians.

The former President made the comment via his official twitter account on Saturday.

"I request those police and military officers who are loyal to the nation, to pressure [the authorities] to stop the investigations against parliamentarians, and to allow them to enter the parliament premises," reads the tweet.

Noting that President Abdulla Yameen is still using the security forces 'for political gain,' Nasheed also noted that this will only cause harm to the institutions and the country.

MPS has launched an investigation into a case where a number of opposition lawmakers 'illegally' entered the parliament premises on July 24.

The opposition accuses President Yameen of ordering the military to lock down parliament and prevent lawmakers from entering the parliament compound that day. According to the opposition the reason for this is 'to thwart MPs from voting to impeach the parliament speaker', which was initially scheduled for July 24.

In addition, four opposition parliamentarians- Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris, Thulusdhoo constituency MP Mohamed Waheed, Maduvvari constituency MP Mohamed Ameeth and Villingilli constituency MP Saud Hussain- are currently under police custody awaiting trials, while trials are also ongoing against Maamigilli constituency MP and Jumhooree Party leader, Qasim Ibrahim.

Ameeth, Waheed, and Saud were arrested for having entered the parliament ground as the Elections Commission had announced that they no longer held seats in parliament.

The decision was made after the Supreme Court ruled to disqualify parliamentarians who leave their party, joins another or are expelled from the party.