MPs blackmailed to resign Nasheed's confidence motion, alleges Ilyas
Eva has now informed the Parliament that she is reluctant to preside over the matter before the Supreme Court decides on the matter
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb has said that the signatures required to resubmit the no-confidence motion against Speaker Mohamed Nasheed was obtained by blackmailing lawmakers.
Ilyas, who contested the last presidential election on the ticket of 'The Democrats', told a program at Sangu TV on Sunday evening that the signatures were obtained through influence and intimidation by the government.
He referred to information he obtained from some of the members who signed:
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Some members say they signed unknowingly; they signed it thinking it was a list to mark the attendance of the meeting
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Some members have been threatened that their family members and friends on the housing list will not get flats unless they sign the no-confidence motion
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The flat list was also delayed because the issue was delayed in parliament
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They have also obtained signatures by threatening cases involving some members in court and in the police station; Once signed, the issues will be removed
"Therefore, MPs have said that they are trying to influence MDP members in various ways to get signatures for this [no-confidence vote]," he said.
"So we know members are being blackmailed, and intimidated”.
The motion to dismiss Nasheed was first filed by government MPs in June last year. However, when the opposition PPM-PNC won the first round of the September presidential election, the case was withdrawn after a deal between the two parties seeking Nasheed's assistance in the second round failed.
Since then:
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After the defeat of the MDP in the second round of the presidential election, the process of impeachment resumed
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The matter was tabled in parliament for the second time on 9th last month with the signatures of 49 members. The case was accepted and a 14-day notice was sent on the 12th of that month
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The notice expired and the sessions scheduled to continue the case could not be held due to absence of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Eva Abdullah; There is no way to proceed with the case in the absence of the Deputy Speaker
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The MDP has filed a petition in the court seeking a member of Parliament to preside over the no-confidence motion in the absence of the Deputy Speaker
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The first hearing of the case is scheduled for Monday at 9:30 am
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Eva has now informed the Parliament that she is reluctant to preside over the matter before the Supreme Court decides on the matter
