Qasim Ibrahim, the self-exiled leader of Jumhooree Party, has said that opposition MPs are refusing to enter the parliament for the sake of the citizens and the Constitution.

In a tweet on Monday, Qasim said that opposition members are boycotting parliamentary sittings because of the unlawful and biased arrests and convictions of parliamentarians, as well as the removal of MPs from parliament by the Elections Commission.

Qasim further said the laws and regulations of the parliament have been warped under the authority of a speaker who must be impeached.

While the parliament comprises of 85 members, 30 had attended Monday’s sitting.

It has been over a year since 12 opposition lawmakers were banned from entering the parliament building or attending any sitting, after being unseated by the Elections Commission.