A prominent lawmaker aligned to the opposition has claimed they will focus on 2018 presidential election only after 'shutting-down' incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government.
The south-Galolhu constituency lawmaker Ahmed Mahloof made the statement after Maldives elections watchdog claimed the commission has commenced preparatory works for the upcoming elections.
Mahloof stressed the opposition's focus will not be waved over Elections Commission's statement. He added that the opposition will start considering about the commission's members and the upcoming election after putting "nail in the coffin" of president Yameen's administration.
Elections Commission has stated they have commenced works for the possibility of a September presidential elections, however had not given any formal confirmation regarding it.
The Maldives has been thrown into new woes as the Supreme Court ordered release order on nine political dissidents was shunned by the government resulting in a head-butting of president Yameen's administration against the top-court.
After continued debacle from president Yameen to convince top-court to rescind its orders, a state of emergency was declared stretching for 15-days locking-down more than 20 constitutional rights and several judicature rights, including the Criminal Procedure Act.
This granted the government with uncontested authority to move against the top-court and thereby acted as such by dispatching military to Supreme Court premises moments after the declaration.
Both Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and top-court judge Ali Hameed were arrested, who are both currently being pressed charges of accepting bribe and attempting to overthrow a constitutional government.
On Monday president Abdulla Yameen asked the local parliament for approval to extend the ongoing state of emergency for 15-more days, while it will end on Tuesday night.
President Yameen was unable to muster parliament support as the constitutionally mandated amount of votes for a bill to pass is 43 - the parliament had 38 votes in favor on Monday while opposition members collectively boycotted the special sitting.
