I have not fled the country, nor do I have any reason to do so: EC President Shareef

Elections Commissioner Ahmed Shareef refutes reports that he is out of the country.

Shareef revealed that he is currently in capital city Male’ and that there is no reason for him to go abroad.

This comes at a time spokesperson at the President’s office, Ibrahim Muaz Ali asserted that commissioner Shareef Is “in hiding”, adding that he must be held accountable for the current political unrest in the country, while speaking at the protest held in front of the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM)’s main office as part of the serial protests being held by ruling party supporters after refusing to accept results of the presidential polls held on the 23rd of September.

“Is Shareef within earshot or has he gone into hiding? You need to answer to our questions wherever you are, whether at the Velana International Airport or not. There are other means in which you will be held accountable so you should not flee from responding, you should not even think of fleeing” said Muaz.

While Muaz has asserted that Shareef must be held accountable, outgoing President Abdulla Yameen had on the 10th of October, filed a constitutional case at the Supreme Court regarding inconsistencies in the Presidential Election, after having accused the Elections Commission of rigging the election. Supreme Court has since ordered the Elections Commission to answer to the case before 11am on Saturday and scheduled trials to begin on Sunday.

Following death threats to the commission since the commission announced the final results of the polls, four commission members except commissioner Shareef had fled to neighboring Sri Lanka. As such, EC Vice President Amjad Mustafa, spokesperson Ahmed Akram, and members Ali Nashath and Ismail Habeeb are currently in Sri Lanka.

EC had revealed that a case has been lodged at the Maldives Police Service regarding the death threats they have been receiving.

With this being said, earlier in October, First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim had also departed to Saudi Arabia along with son, on an unofficial trip and RaajjeMV is yet unclear on when they will be returning, if at all.