Joint Opposition Parties say that they will do all possible to prevent the appointment of Azima Shakoor to the bench of Supreme Court.

Azima currently serves as Legal Affairs Minister at the President’s Office. Azima is also a key figure within the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM).

Speaking in a press conference in Maafannu Kunooz, Spokesperson for the Joint Opposition, MP Ahmed Mahloof, said that they had information the Government wished to appoint Azima to the Supreme Court bench and make changes to the laws on Courts to facilitate this. After her appointment to the bench, Mahloof said it was likely that she will be appointed as Chief Justice. MP Mahloof defined this as a dangerous move.

‘We will definitely work from within the Parliament to prevent this,’ he said.

‘They also want to appoint in two more Justices to the bench,’ MP Mahloof said.

Mahloof admitted that there were many issues within the Judicial justice system, but stressed that this was hardly the time to bring in such a drastic change.

He warned the current Supreme Court bench could end up in jail; a precedent set by President Abdullah Yameen.