Police again arrest disqualified MP

Police has again arrested disqualified Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed hours after he was released on Monday.

MP Waheed was earlier arrested Monday morning along with disqualified Madduvari MP Mohamed Ameeth for entering the parliament illegally.

Police, however, did not disclose the reason behind the arrest.

According to the police, the two MPs were arrested for entering the parliament illegally, as they are no longer Parliamentarians.

The Thulusdhoo MP is among the four disqualified lawmakers of the ruling party to file a case to the Supreme Court in order to overturn their disqualification by the electoral watchdog. The case was accepted by the top court on Monday.

Elections commission said the dismissals had been officially relayed to the parliament while in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling, the four lawmakers have been disqualified and their respective seats have been declared vacant.

Shortly after the parliament locked-up its gates and increased security around its premises, opposition lawmakers left the main opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) camp in Maafannu ward on foot to the parliament.

However, riot police armed with shields had blocked off the lawmakers a few meters from the JP camp before allowing them to march to the parliament.

Determined opposition lawmakers had managed to breach lines of riot police before storming the parliament.

The lawmakers with hundreds of supporters marched to the parliament before they were again blocked off by police. The MPs then rushed towards the police lines with several successfully breaching the lines before a few lawmakers climbed over the wall to enter the parliament grounds.

Riot police and soldiers had entered the parliament earlier and dragged the opposition lawmakers out of the parliament premises.

According to reporters several lawmakers were injured in the clashes as police used pepper spray to deter the determined MPs.

Soldiers and police in riot gear entered the parliament shortly after to forcibly drag lawmakers outside.
The MPs were heard pleading the security forces to respect the rule of law and not to obey unlawful orders as they were pushed and shoved outside.

The now united opposition had wrested parliament control from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to file a no-confidence motion against the speaker.

The parliament had beefed up security only allowing staff to enter after vigorous screening. An opposition lawmaker told Avas that the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) entrusted with parliament security had said all lawmakers had been banned from the parliament premises as "there was no scheduled sitting."

Hundreds of opposition protesters meanwhile had gathered near the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) office before they were pushed back by the police.