Complaint over Qasim's loss of parliamentary privileges dismissed
The Jumhooree Party’s complaint that its leader Qasim Ibrahim’s arrest had violated the law on parliamentary privileges has been dismissed
MP Qasim Ibrahim speaking to the press on Sunday, April 2nd 2017
The Jumhooree Party’s complaint that its leader Qasim Ibrahim’s arrest had violated the law on parliamentary privileges has been dismissed.
Parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh dismissed it on the grounds that MP Abdulla Riyaz, who had submitted the complaint, did so out of procedure.
Riyaz’s complaint stipulates that the arrest was not only unlawful under Article 45 of the constitutiton, but violates the Parliament Priviiledges Act in that it obstructs Qasim Ibrahim’s duty as a parliamentarian, especially given that correctional services had not ensures his presence in parliament.
The police apprehended the JP leader on Thursday with a court order issued based on an intelligence report they developed themselves.
Ibrahim, also the Maamigillil constituency MP, had attempted to bribe lawmakers in order to win the no-confidence vote against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh, held on March 27 and an upcoming vote against his deputy.
