Only supporters of the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) were given the opportunity to observe the third and final hearing being held in the constitutional case filed by outgoing President Abdulla Yameen to annul the result of the 2018 Presidential Election.

It was perceived that the ruling party supporters and activists had begun queuing up outside the Supreme Court from Monday night, twelve hours prior to the commencement of the hearing scheduled for 10am.

This morning, the crowd outside the court had gotten into a heated dispute following MP Ahmed Mahloof’s arrival to take the place of someone he had placed in queue on Monday night. RaajjeMV understands that MP Mahloof had not been approved the chance to observe the final hearing at first,  however, Mahloof was allowed entry just a few minutes prior to the commencement of the hearing.

Mahloof had asserted that he had placed someone in queue the night before, and the token number he had was one among the ones being issued by the PPM supporters on Monday night.

People who were there since Monday night had asserted that Mahloof had arrived with a token number he had printed out himself, going on to claim that the queue began on Monday night with about 30 PPM supporters.

Although several others had joined the queue along with MP Mahloof, they had not been given the chance to get in to the hearing.

It is notable that while the Supreme Court accommodates up to 25 people, 10 journalists will be allowed entry and a certain amount of relevant parties as well.

Many officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS)’s Special Operations unit are active in the area.