Supreme Court reinstates MPs Musthafa and Shaah
Their verdict hearings were held on Tuesday morning
MP Mohamed Musthafa (L)
Maldives top court has on Tuesday reinstated MPs Mohamed Musthafa and Ali Shaah.
The Thimarafushi and North-Fuvahmulah MPs are among the 12 lawmakers that were unlawfully unseated for defecting, using a floor-crossing ruling issued by the Supreme Court after their defection.
While both verdict hearings were held separately on Tuesday morning, the main point noted by their attorneys was that they had defected prior to the Supreme Court ruling.
The Court had ruled that the Elections Commission (EC) had misapplied its ruling in unseating them.
However, EC had earlier this month reversed its decision to strip the 12 MPs of their seats. Hours later, the Supreme Court annulled the Commission’s decision saying that the 12 must not be allowed to attend parliament sittings until it decides on the matter.
The court has since reinstated 10 lawmakers, and is yet to issue rulings in Hanimaadhoo constituency MP Hussain Shahudhee and Ihavandhoo constituency MP Mohamed Abdulla’s cases.
The verdict hearings in their cases are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
