Minister given notice before debates begin in no-confidence motion

Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Mohamed Nasheed has stated that Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla will be given the required 14-day notice before debates begin in the no-confidence motion submitted against him.

Nasheed stated that Imran must be given the notice, in accordance with Article 101(b) of the Maldives constitution and Article 207(b) of the People’s Majlis Act, which state that “at least fourteen days’ notice of the debate in the People’s Majlis concerning a motion under article (a) shall be given to the concerned member of the Cabinet, and he shall have the right to defend himself in the sittings of the People’s Majlis, both orally and in writing.”

Once the 14-day period expires, the motion will be placed on the parliament agenda for debates.

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.

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

However, 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.”