Parliament debate on Azhan’s death despite MDP whip
Speaking at the debate that followed, West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef said that it is a matter of concern and shame for the party to have issued such a whip.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s parliamentary group issued a whip against accepting an oppostion-sponsored emergency motion submitted to the parliament over the death of Mohamed Azhan who had gone missing on 18 September.
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Azhan, 27, a resident of Hulhumale Phase II, was reported missing around 7pm the following day by his family
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The body of a man believed to be Azhan was found in a police investigation around 5.45pm on Sunday
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The body was found in the wooded area dense with vegetation on the west side of Nirolhu Magu, in front of the water theme park, an incomplete construction project
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Red Bull stadium is the last location where Azhan was seen.
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According to the police, the body of a man believed to be Azhan was found in their second search of the area, since CCTV footage showed he had not left the area.
At Tuesday's parliament sitting, Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef who represents the opposition coalition's PNC submitted the motion over the death of Azhan. The motion notes:
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Public concerns over police investigation
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It is a matter of concern that Azhan had gone missing for 14 days, without any developments in the missing person's case
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When such deaths have been on the rise recently, the police have not been transparent
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The role of home ministry and police need to be expanded and strengthened to ensure the safety and security of the people
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He called on the police to employ all resources to expand and speed up Azhan's death investigation
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He called for investigations to assess the extent of negligence of relevant authorities
Twenty-five members voted in favour of the motion. While 11 members voted against the case, no MP abstained.
Eleven MDP MPs voted to dismiss the motion without debate, as the party had issued a whip to vote against the issue.
The members are:
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1-
South Henveiru MP Hussain Shaheem
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2-
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
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3-
Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad
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4-
Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Gafoor Moosa
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5-
Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Shifau
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6-
Komandoo MP Mohamed Rashid
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7-
Alifushi MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain
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8-
Gan MP Mohamed Wisam
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9-
North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam
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10-
Maradhoo MP Ahmed Shareef
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11-
South Fuvahmulah MP Mohamed Mumthaz
Speaking at the debate that followed, West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef said that it is a matter of concern and shame for the party to have issued such a whip.
"When Maduvvari MP submitted the motion to the parliament, the fact that supermajority MDP had issued a whip line not to accept the case into parliament for debate is a matter that brings me great shame," Latheef said to applause by some of his party members.
Latheef did not believe that the police had done enough to find Azhan. He called on the relevant committees of the parliament to look into the matter.
"Although the police said he was missing for 14 days, I don't believe the investigation has been done properly. If the police properly searched the location of his whereabouts, at least the body could have been found earlier," Latheef saud.
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