PNC to take action against MPs absent from SC judges bill vote

PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah announced on Tuesday that action will be taken against members of the party who did not participate in the parliamentary vote on a bill to remove two Supreme Court judges.

Falah conveyed this in a message to party members. The bill, which seeks to amend the Courts Act by reducing the number of Supreme Court judges from seven to five, was accepted in Tuesday's sitting.

The PNC leadership had issued a three-line whip instructing members to support the bill.

Ten PNC members first expressed their dissatisfaction in the party’s WhatsApp group. Following the parliamentary vote, President Mohamed Muizzu sent a message to the group, reiterating that members must adhere to the party’s decision.

“The party has issued a three-line whip, and no one should ever violate it,” the president wrote.

The PNC MPs absent from the vote are: 

Three minutes to the president's message, parliamentary group leader Hussain Falah informed the group that disciplinary action would be taken against members who violated party instructions.

"Action will be taken against those who deliberately violate discipline while a three-line whip has been issued," Falah wrote.

No further details on the disciplinary measures have been disclosed, as the specific rules have not been made public.

The bill was backed by the PNC parliamentary group on Monday, despite some members voicing opposition. However, the group had decided to follow the government’s instructions, and the party leadership confirmed its support for the bill later that night.