MDP accuses govt of plot to sack Supreme Court judges
MDP has condemned the government’s actions and called for an immediate halt to any attempts to remove the judges.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday accused the government of planning to remove three sitting Supreme Court judges in an attempt to exert influence over the court’s decisions, particularly regarding a pending constitutional case.
The case in question challenges recent amendments to the constitution that could result in the loss of parliamentary seats. It was filed by former MP and lawyer Ali Hussain and is set for its first hearing on February 17. The Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Ahmed Muhthasin Adnan, will hear the case with its full seven-member bench.
In a strongly worded statement issued Saturday night, the MDP claimed that the government’s attempt to remove the judges is an effort to sway the outcome of the case. The party further alleged that:
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The current Prosecutor General, Abbas Shareef, has been selected to replace one of the dismissed judges.
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Two additional replacements are individuals holding political positions within the current administration.
The MDP emphasized that one of its major achievements in government was ensuring judicial independence and removing external influences from the Supreme Court. The party warned that any move to interfere with the judiciary would be a significant step backward in restoring public confidence in the courts.
In light of the allegations, the MDP has condemned the government’s actions and called for an immediate halt to any attempts to remove the judges. The party has also been granted permission, alongside the Democrats, to intervene in the Supreme Court case.
