Reconstituting committees stalled on Aslam's request, SG says
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Parliament Secretary General Fathimath Niusha said on Saturday that the reconstitution of parliamentary committees has been put on hold after MDP's parliamentary group leader Mohamed Aslam requested to hold it off to allow negotiations about the matter with the parties.
Niusha informed the members on Thursday that the motion to remove North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla as deputy speaker has been put on hold as per regulations for not reconstituting parliamentary committees.
Aslam had written a letter to Niusha the same day, saying he was not satisfied with her decision and could not do any other business in parliament without moving the no-confidence motion.
Niusha replied to Aslam's letter on Saturday. Speaker Mohamed Nasheed released Niusha's reply on a WhatsApp group where lawmakers are present. A copy of the same has been received by Atoll Times.
In her reply to Aslam, Niusha said:
-
Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed announced on the same day that the vote on the reconstitution of the committees will take place at the end of the day's sitting held on May 23
-
It was put on hold at Aslam's behest
"When the speaker of the parliament made such an announcement, you, as the majority leader and leader of MDP's parliamentary group requested that the matter to be put on hold to re-determine the ratio in consultation with the parliamentary group leaders under Article 33(a) of the parliament's rules of procedure," the letter said.
According to Aslam's letter to Niusha, anything else can be debated or decided in parliament only after taking a decision on the motion to remove Eva from the post of deputy speaker. At a press conference held on Thursday, Aslam also referred to Article 205(d) of the parliament's rules of procedure and made it clear that this was the party's stand.
Niusha's letter stated that this section of the regulation was misinterpreted.
"A debate or decision on anything else will be barred only after the notice of the motion expires and the motion [of no-confidence motion] is tabled in the parliament," Niusha said, adding that though the notice has been given to Eva, the matter has not yet been taken up in the parliament.
Niusha's opinion is that even if a decision is not taken on Eva's no-confidence motion as it has not yet been tabled in the parliament, other business of the parliament can continue.
In the letter, Niusha added:
-
There is a major change in the way parties are represented in parliament; the 13 defectors from MDP have lost their status in the standing committees
-
As per the regulations of the Parliament, every member is required to be a member of at least one committee of the parliament; it is also clear that the speaker will be responsible for protecting the interests of members who do not belong to political parties
-
According to the regulations, the committees can now function by passing the changes in the percentage of committees comprising members belonging to political parties and those who do not belong to a particular party
-
Discussions are underway to form committees so that these interests can also be protected through discussions.
Aslam told a press conference on Thursday:
-
It is the duty of the secretary general to direct the general committee to function in accordance with the regulations of parliament
-
The regulations do not allow any further work to be carried out in the parliament after the expiry of the notice for responding to a no-confidence motion against the speaker or the deputy speaker
-
Promised all possible concessions from MDP in reconstituting committees
MDP's parliamentary group has also moved a no-confidence motion against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed. MDP cited Nasheed's delay in reconstituting the committees as one of the main reasons for filing the case.
MDP and Nasheed's newly formed The Democrats'party are now blaming each other for forcing a deadlock in parliament when the issue of removal of speaker and deputy speaker was raised simultaneously.
