The Attorney General’s Office has assured that the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty will not affect the rights guaranteed to the people.

The parliament approved the motion to sign the treaty with India on Monday.

In a statement released prior to the vote, the AG Office emphasized that all laws and regulations will be followed in implementing this.

It highlighted that extradition of individuals “is not within the scope of this treaty.”

Further noting that the country will receive immense support in criminal investigations because of the treaty, it said that this will in turn strengthen and expedite the process.

While the treaty will allow Maldivians to be transferred for questioning for criminal investigations, the AG Office emphasized that this will be done “as per law,” and after guaranteeing their protection through the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The government submitted the motion to sign the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in February, seeking to allow Maldives and India to assist each other in criminal cases.

The scope of the treaty covers the facilitation of the widest measures of mutual assistance in the service of summons, execution of warrants and other judicial documents and commissions, in accordance with the treaty and subject to the domestic laws of participating nations. It also includes improving the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime, including crime related to terrorism and tracing, restraints forfeiture or confiscation of funds meant for financing of terrorism as also the proceeds and instruments of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The treaty is to facilitate ‘the fight against criminal activity, especially crime related to terrorism,” and will also aid in the investigation of such matters, obtaining evidence, and broaden the opportunity to interrogate those in question.

While there have been criticism that the government is working to “rush” this through parliament, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih las week revealed that the work was launched by the previous government and that the current one is just ‘completing the process.”

The President’s Office had said that Maldives is also in discussions with Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Russia, in pursuing similar treaties.