Yameen told his home minister not to be "overwhelmed" by Rilwan's abduction, according to chat logs from a cabinet Viber group seen by the Maldives Independent.
The lawmakers were arrested on Gadhdhoo ahead of President Yameen's visit to the island.
The president denied thwarting the investigation into the missing journalist, "who is now dead."
The opposition accused President Abdulla Yameen of 'running scared' of the election.
Ibrahim Rasheed was severely beaten during a police crackdown on February 8, 2012.
The application was submitted last month by prominent lawyer Abdulla Haseen.
The government has been accused of seeking a pretext to delay the September 23 presidential election.
The opposition was able to put up campaign posters on Friday without police obstruction.
More than 1,500 PPM supporters lined up at the Hulhumalé central park.
The 22-year-old man was stabbed in the head.
A dozen defectors from the ruling party were deemed to have lost their seats in July last year.
The government plans to reclaim lagoons near Malé to provide a 1,000-square-foot home for all adult Maldivians.
The finance minister announced plans to publish monthly income and spending data.
The joint opposition candidate will jail allies involved in the 2012 transfer of power, he contended.
STO reported US$3 million as Q1 after-tax profit whilst MTCC's profit declined by 47 percent in Q2.
The opposition is seeking probes into the misuse of state resources.
Yameen challenged the opposition candidate to answer to the alleged "betrayals" of the MDP government.
