- President Yameen is currently in charge of the party
- Decision regarding H. Thema has not yet been reached
- Commotion ensued upon the opening of the office
The Progressive Party of Maldives's (PPM) office was opened last night despite protests from party leader and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom with the help of the police. All the equipment related to the management of the party were transferred from the office at H. Thema to the new PPM office in Dharubaaruge.
Both the High Court and the Supreme Court have upheld the Civil Court ruling transferring leadership of the party to its chief adviser and current President Abdulla Yameen, but Gayyoom had been defying this ruling and had refused to hand over control on the main party office to President Yameen.
Members of PPM who support President Yameen entered the office after removing the lock on the gate and transferred many documents to the office in Dharubaaruge in a pick up truck. Some computers and furniture were also removed from the main office.
PPM's Secretary General Abdulla Khaleel reported to 'Avas' that all the equipment in the main office related to the management of the party has been transferred to the new office opened in Dharubaaruge. Khaleel said that this was done according to the court ruling, and that they have not yet decided the fate of the office at H. Thema.
The police also inform that they opened the office according to the court's ruling. Supporters of the elder Gayyoom's faction led by his daughter had blocked the previous attempt to open the office and had also thrown stones at the office.
Party council member Aminath Nadira who supports the Maumoon faction has gone to the police regarding the matter of opening the office.
Parliament Member of the Thulusdhoo constituency, Mohamed Waheed said last night that the office had no agreements with PPM, and that the office was being used by PPM through a verbal agreement by the owner and former President Maumoon. He also said that the office could not be called a PPM office due to this, and that even if the management of the party has been handed over to President Yameen, the only way to confiscate equipment in this office should be through a court order.
Despite this, the council formed by Gayyoom have been meeting at this office. The former President has also repeatedly said previously that the office in question in question is a PPM office and has expressed displeasure at party events occurring at other venues. Secretary General Khaleel has said that the court's sentence clearly shows that management of the party is now in the hands of the party's chief adviser, and that all the tools and equipment needed to do this should be at his disposal.
