The Elections Commission has nullified its decision to unseat 12 opposition lawmakers.

While the Commission has informed this to all relevant institutions, it said that the decision to unseat the lawmakers and hold by-elections has been nullified ‘until the Supreme Court makes a ruling in the matter’.

The 12 former ruling party lawmakers have been prohibited, with the use of the military, from attending parliament sittings since July 2017. While their defection gave the opposition clear majority in parliament, they were unseated so as to quash a no-confidence motion against Speaker Abdulla Maseeh.

Parliament has since convened only to pass bills important to the current government, and confirm appointments of individuals nominated by President Abdulla Yameen.

The Supreme Court's controversial February ruling ordered the immediate reinstatement of the 12 MPs.