Gayoom calls on security forces to stop by-elections
The electoral body called the by-elections shortly after the apex court ruled that there was no room to adjudicate cases filed by four former Progressive Party of Maldives lawmakers who were deemed to have lost their seats for crossing the floor.
29 Aug 2017, 9:00 AM
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has urged the security forces to stop the electoral body from holding parliamentary by-elections in six constituencies, a move he contended would be in defiance of an ambiguous Supreme Court decision.
Speaking at a rally of the four-party opposition coalition Monday night, Gayoom said the Elections Commission was acting in contravention of the court’s ruling on the disputed status of four former ruling party lawmakers who were deemed to have lost their seats for crossing the floor.
“I completely agree with what lawyer Mahfooz Saeed said. The security forces have to stop them,” he said.
“We have to arrest those who are breaking the laws if they do not comply after being advised. We cannot administer justice in the country without doing so.”
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