MDP slams police chief vacancy amid violence surge

In the wake of rising incidents of violence, the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) condemned the absence of a police commissioner and demanded that a person be appointed to the post at the earliest, on Monday.

Police have stepped up security measures in Addu after two people were attacked and group fights broke out.

The MDP issued a statement on Monday expressing concern over the failure of the government to establish security in the country.

MDP statement said that during the first PPM government under former President Abdullah Yameen, the roads were unsafe and the four walls of houses were not safe.

The PPM-PNC has been following that path since President Mohammed Muizzu came to power as well, MDP says.

Three weeks into the new government, no one has been appointed as the police commissioner. The MDP has called for the appointment of a police commissioner.

"The government has not yet appointed a top officer to the police service, which is responsible for maintaining law and order in the country. This is a deterrent to the best of the police's responsibilities. The party urges the government to expedite the appointment of a commissioner through the police board," the statement said.

The statement added that the five years of the MDP government have been the least crime-ridden in Maldives in the past 15 years. It was also pointed out that it was the result of a concerted effort by several institutions to ensure law and order in the state.

The post of Police Commissioner became vacant after ‘CP’ Mohammed Hameed, who was the Chief of Police in the previous government, resigned with the start of this government.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Farhad Fikry has been appointed to the post on an interim basis.

According to the Maldivian Police Service Act, the President does not have the direct power to appoint a person to the post of Police Commissioner. Instead, the law says;