No-confidence motion against home minister submitted at Majlis

A no-confidence motion against Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has been submitted at the People’s Majlis.

Proposed with the signatures of 11 parliamentarians representing the opposition coalition comprising of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), the move seeks to dismiss Imran as home minister, following remarks he made while speaking on a radio talk show at Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu. Two independent MPs also signed the petition.

Sources report that the minister had spoken differently regarding the murder of ex-MP Dr. Afrasheem Ali as opposed to previous comments made by him.

He is to have stated that the documents regarding the MP’s murder and Minivan News Journalist Ahmed Rilwan’s murder were inaccurate, during the May Day protest.

He is to also have claimed that the documents on evidence in connection to Rilwan’s murder were confiscated by the Maldives Police Service, while speaking at a parliamentary sitting on October 21.

The minister recently came under fire for derogatory remarks made in connection to the safari rape case. He is to have said that the incidents on the safari cannot be deemed a “rape” but something “minor” that could have happened.

This led to public criticism, with some questioning his responsibility as a Cabinet Minister and claiming that women’s right cannot be ensured with him remaining at a ministerial position.

However, the minister had later apologized for the remarks, claiming that they were misunderstood.

According to the People’s Majlis guidelines, a no-confidence motion against a minister may be submitted with a minimum of 10 signatories. The motion was submitted in accordance to Article 101 of the Maldives constitution, which states that “a motion expressing want of confidence in a member of the Cabinet may be moved in the People’s Majlis, under the hand of at least ten members, specifying the reasons.”