Amid the ambiguous ruling of Supreme Court over the challenges filed by apparent disqualified parliamentarians over their seats, sparking mass confusion between opposition and government alike - Elections Commission (EC) has decided to hold by-elections at six constituencies which includes the four disqualified lawmakers' constituents.
By-elections set by Elections Commission on Sunday will be held at Vilingili, Thulusdhoo, Maduvvari and Dhihdhoo constituencies. In addition to this south-Machhangolhi and Dhangethi constituencies will have their by-elections as well.
Both lawmakers' representing the latter mentioned constituencies had not attended to court proceedings over Election Commission's preceding rule.
A statement released by the Commission reiterated about their decision to hold by-elections for the six constituencies following the representative lawmakers' disqualification from seat, however emphasized the proceedings were put on halt due to challenges filed by four lawmakers at Supreme Court - thus the commission awaited for the conclusion of the cases.
EC stressed the Supreme Court's ruling did not contradict with their decision and ergo have decided to hold the planned by-elections.
Supreme Court's vague ruling concluded that there was "nothing more to settle" in the challenging cases filed by the disqualified lawmakers over anti-defection rule. This has sparked debates between ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the opposition alliance.
Pro-government lawmakers claim Supreme Court's ruling comes in favor of the anti-defection rule, thus officially unseating the disqualified lawmakers from their respective constituencies. However the opposition is abhorrent towards the notion of pro-government allies, and insist the top court's ruling had furthermore clarified that the apparent disqualified lawmakers get to keep their seats.
Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, Dhidhdhoo lawmaker Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Maduvvaree MP Mohamed Ameeth and Villingili MP Saud Hussain had all challenged their disqualifications at the top court.
The top court has said the ruling clearly states that it would not apply to any past events in retrospect to the latest precedent.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court reiterated that the anti-defection ruling would only be effective from July 13 and would only apply to events from that date.
Following the ruling from the top court, several lawyers and MPs have stressed that the ruling has strongly suggested the anti-defection rule cannot be applied to the lawmakers who challenged their cases to Supreme Court, since they received the disqualification axe before the mentioned date from court's verdict.
The delay in the Supreme Court's decision had sparked opposition led rumours that the five judge bench remained divided over the challenges.
