Moosa maintains expulsion was unfair but apologises
When asked if Moosa could run for a party post, Ibrahim Waheed said he could appeal the decision.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Former party chairperson Moosa Manik, who was expelled from the party in 2014 following conflicts within the party, rejoined the party after completing the formalities required, party sources said on Wednesday.
Moosa Manik, who was also instrumental in the formation of MDP, rejoined the party on Tuesday and handed over the membership form to the party's chairperson, economic minister Fayyaz Ismail.
Moosa, who had handed over the nomination papers in the presence of senior party leader, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was expelled from the party eight years ago on the condition that he should do certain things while rejoining the party:
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Moosa was sacked for allegedly violating the whipline when MDP’s parliamentary group decided to vote against the removal of then Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain and then Supreme Court Judge and now Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan
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Along with the apology, Moosa must return to the party with membership signatures of 50 new additions to MDP
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He will not be able to contest for any post or any primaries in the five years after joining the party
The biggest sacrifices I ever made in my political life was for the MDP, and having been expelled from the party, I still believe it was not done in the fairest manner.
MDP’s Vice Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed told Atoll Times on Wednesday that Moosa had joined the party after "completing the formalities required to be completed before registering".
"He rejoined, with the signatures of 150 people, and after apologising," Ibrahim Waheed said.
When asked if Moosa could run for a party post, Ibrahim Waheed said he could appeal the decision.
'Action unfair, but I apologise'
Moosa's letter to party chairperson Fayyaz and his apology statement have now been posted on the party's website. In the letter too, he said he had returned with the signatures of 150 members.
In the apology statement, Moosa said:
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A three-line whip has to be issued after consultation with the group as per the procedure followed in the party’s parliamentary group; however, in 2014, the whip was issued in the case of his conviction in violation of the common practice
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The three-line whip was issued to the decision of the party's acting president
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Violation of the whipline should be probed if he went to parliament and voted against it; but he did not turn up for the vote that day
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Five other MPs also violated the whip, but they were not expelled from the party
"The biggest sacrifices I ever made in my political life was for the MDP, and having been expelled from the party, I still believe it was not done in the fairest manner," said Moosa, who joined the rival party after being expelled from MDP.
"Whatever the situation is, I apologise to the party members as per my instructions."
