The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has stated that they had to take the issue of the proceedings being delayed in the no-confidence motion against their estranged former leader and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed to Supreme Court due the People’s Majlis’s failure to provide a solution to the issue.

A hearing of the petition submitted by the main ruling party at the Supreme Court, regarding the delay in proceeding the no-confidence motion against Nasheed took place at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

During the hearing, all parties involved in the case gave statements and answered questioned posed by the justices.

Speaking at court, MDP’s lawyer Abdulla Afeef revealed that it cannot be claimed that the deputy speaker is the only one who can preside over a case regarding the removal of the speaker.

The lawyer noted that if interpreted that way, if a no-confidence motion was moved against the speaker and in the event the deputy speaker passes away, the matter would not proceed at all.

The ruling party’s lawyer added that at present, a lot of work relating to public interest is stalled at the People’s Majlis and one of the most important things pending include work on the budget.

According to Nasheed’s ‘The Democrats’, which is embroiled in the case as well, this issue can be resolved within the parliament.

Lawyers representing the party added their belief that it was not right for the court to get involved in the case.

During the hearing, Secretary General of the Parliament, Fathimath Niusha also revealed that the issue could be resolved through the parliament system.

Responding to this, MDP’s lawyer revealed that the issue had to be taken up at the Supreme Court due to the parliament’s failure to resolve the issue.

MDP filed the petition at Supreme Court seeking direction to appoint a person to preside as speaker, under Article 44 of the Rules of Parliament in case the Deputy Speaker fails to attend the motion for removal of the Speaker under Article 82 of the Constitution and to declare that no parliament sitting shall be held unless a decision is taken on the dismissal resolution.

The bench presiding over this case comprises of Justices Mahaz Ali Zahir, Ali Rasheed Hussain, Azmiralda Zahir, Aisha Shujoon Mohamed and Mohamed Ibrahim.

The hearings in the case concluded on Tuesday and the next hearing will be held to issue a verdict on the issue.