Riffath Raises Concerns Over Dismissal of Resolution Against Nasheed

Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath has highlighted that the resolution for the dismissal of the no-confidence motion against Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Mohamed Nasheed, was issued against parliamentary rules. 

1. މަޖިލީހުގެ ގަވާއިދުގެ 205 ވަނަ މާއްދާގައިވާ ގޮތުގެ މަތިން މަޖިލީހުގެ ރައީސް، މަޤާމުން ވަކިކުރުމުގެ ޤަރާރަކީ މަޖިލީހުގެ ގަވާއިދުގެ 168،167 އަދި 169ވަނަ މާއްދާގައި ބަޔާންކުރާ މެންބަރުން ހުށަހަޅާ 'ޢާންމު' ޤަރާރުތަކާ ގުޅިގެން ފުރިހަމަކުރަންޖެހޭ އިޖުރާއަތުތައް ހިނގާ ޤަރާރެއް ނޫން.

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— I Riffath (@ibriffath) November 12, 2023

Riffath expressed this concern in a tweet on the matter yesterday.

The motion, aimed at removing Nasheed from the post of Speaker of Parliament, had a 14-day notice period, following which it was scheduled for the daily session. However, the session faced an obstacle due to the absence of Deputy Speaker Eva Abdullah. 

The case was initially scheduled for the first session of the House yesterday. However, the morning session ruled the motion as illegal. 

Eva Abdullah, attempting to move the matter to the second session scheduled for 11:30 pm, stated that the issue had been excluded from the morning session.

Riffath emphasised that the presidency of a session, agendaed for the motion of impeachment by a member with the influence of the Speaker Nasheed, contradicts the conflict of interest rule.

Riffath further argued that both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure envision appointing a person to preside over the session of the General Assembly, emphasising a deviation from this norm in the current situation.

The no-confidence motion against Speaker Nasheed remains on the agenda for today’s session, awaiting further developments.