Ex-AG Munawwar, ex-Judge Azmiralda ready to join judicial reform movement

Former Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has hinted that former Attorney General and lawyer Dr. Mohamed Munawwar and former Judge at High Court Dr. Azmiralda Zahir were ready to join the judicial reform movement initiated by lawyers.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, Shameem noted that many lawyers, former Judges and individuals in the investigative agencies were prepared to ally with the movement.

In photo attached with the tweet, Shameem is flanked by Kendhoo Constituency MP and Lawyer Ali Hussain, as well as Dr. Munawwar and Dr. Azmiralda. Also in the photo, is Mohamed Riyaz, Chief Superintendent of Police. Rumours had surfaced before that he was to be dismissed from his position. A subsequent tweet by Shameem stated that Riyaz is not part of the movement and that the meeting was a chance one.

Dr. Munawwar served as AG in the Maumoon administration and was the first President of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party.

Dr. Azmiralda is the first female Judge sworn into High Court. She had resigned after her transfer to the northern branch of High Court. Her father is Mohamed Zahir, former Speaker of Parliament and former Justice Minister. Zahir has advocated for judicial reform, especially given rising public doubts over the sector.

MP Ali Hussain, who has been suspended indefinitely, on Thursday announced in the opposition rally held in Maafannu Kunooz, that more high-profile lawyers were joining in the cause. He also noted that a new petition was in the works.

The Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) suspended 54 lawyers last week, who called for reform the judiciary, allegedly "for contempt of court'. Fifty-six lawyers had, on 30th August, filed a petition over the country's judiciary at the Supreme Court. However, the petition was rejected by the Court. The two lawyers additional lawyers who signed the petition, former deputy prosecutor general Hussain Shameem and Ali Hussain, are already under suspension.