12 lawmakers 'not unseated', maintains ex-President Nasheed
Nasheed said that the Supreme Court, while it had its full bench, concluded in its order on February 1 that the 12 MPs had not lost their seat
Former President Mohamed Nasheed (left) with Jumhoree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has refuted the Elections Commission (EC) claim that the Supreme Court confirmed that 12 opposition MPs had lost their seats.
In a tweet sent out on Monday, Nasheed said that the main reason for this is because a Supreme Court bench, consisting of ite chief justice, has ruled that the lawmakers had not lost their seats, adding that the Commission's claims come after a ruling made without the chief.
After the February 1 order to release nine political prisoners and reinstate the MPs, Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed were arrested on charges of attempting to overthrow the government. The remaining bench had nullified the order after the arrests.
Also, the recently ratified anti-defection law states that MPs that have been found to have switched parties from 13 July 2017 are to be unseated. Due to this, the EC has decided to hold the by-elections for the constituencies of the 12 MPs and has requested funds from the government.
Jumhoree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim also took to twitter on Monday to say that the Supreme Court order clearly states that the 12 MPs have not lost their seats. He also said that the MPs had left the ruling party before 13 July 2017.
