Allegations devoid of facts: Maseeh

Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Maseeh has refuted the allegations made against him in the no-confidence motion made against him.

Responding to the charges, Maseeh said that the motion was devoid of facts and baseless. He further said he did not believe that most MPs did not review the motion properly.

“I do not think that all members had read the statement. This is a statement that can be dismissed” he said.

Noting that the motion pointed out that sessions had not been held in spite of a full agenda, Maseeh said that there had not been such an instance.

“Parliament Committees are entrusted with the job of expediting processes and responsibilities” he said.

Maseeh said that there were only six bill pending in the parliament committees. He added that it was the responsibility of the committees to bring in cabinet ministers for questioning, noting that 52 ministers had been summoned to the Parliament floor for questioning.

The speaker denied that he had blocked the opportunity for MPs to submit amendments to bills and motions. Maseeh said there were rules and regulations on how debates are carried out in the parliament.

“There is no role in this for the speaker. Therefore, this is baseless,” he said.

He added that he had no role in submitting, debating or passing bills. Maseeh noted that bills were put forward by the government as it is the way specified in the parliament laws.

“The role of the Speaker is to conduct the parliament sitting according to the laws and govern as the majority dictates. The speaker does not have the right to change decisions made by parliament,” he said.

Maseeh asserted that he had governed the Parliament without infringing the rights of MPs and sanctity of the parliament.