The gates of the parliament were unlocked on Sunday, nearly a week after security forces locked up the parliament to keep opposition lawmakers out of its premises.
According to top opposition MP Ahmed Mahloof, the padlocks were removed late Saturday.
The parliament had earlier stated that the parliamentary sittings will resume on Monday after a brief hiatus.
The defence ministry had issued a statement to the public stating that the parliament premises were secured for a week upon the Parliament’s request after opposition planned to storm into the parliament during the hiatus period for a parliamentary sitting.
On Monday, despite the efforts to beef up security around the parliament premises, determined opposition lawmakers had managed to breach lines of riot police before storming the parliament.
Shortly after the parliament locked-up its gates and increased security around it’s 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.
The lawmakers, with hundreds of supporters, marched to the parliament before they were again blocked off by police. The MP’s then rushed towards the police lines with several supporters successfully breaching the lines before a few lawmakers climbed over the wall to enter parliament grounds.
Two opposition lawmakers are facing four different criminal charges over the chaos outside of the parliament last Monday.
Chief opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Jumhoory Party (JP) lawmaker MP Abdulla Riyaz were recently questioned by the police over criminal charges raised against them.
The police had arrested MP Ameeth and MP Waheed for entering the parliament illegally, as they are no longer parliamentarians. The MPs are among the four disqualified lawmakers of the ruling party under the recent Supreme Court’s anti-defection ruling to announce by-elections.
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.
Maldives has been ravaged by fresh political strife after all opposition leaders including former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom penned a historic treaty to work against the government.
In recent weeks, the opposition has scored major victories after wresting parliament majority from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) with help of government lawmakers loyal to the deposed PPM leader Gayoom and his lawmaker son Faris Maumoon.
The elder Gayoom had a major falling-out with half-brother president Yameen which has seen the ruling party split into two factions. The former strongman who ruled the country for three decades before being defeated by Nasheed in the first democratic elections in 2008.
PHOTO: AHMED SHURAU | AVAS
