President's office legal advisor, the legal affairs minister Azima Shukoor has claimed former president Mohamed Nasheed will not be granted opportunity to run for presidency despite United Nation's call stating otherwise.
While speaking at a ceremony in Fuvahmulah on Friday night, the legal affairs minister said that the public had been raising questions regarding UN's decision to 'allow' the self-exiled president a run for the office once again. She corrected the rumors stating the Maldives government had revoked Nasheed's convictions and therefore was still ineligible for presidency according to Maldives Constitution.
According to Article number 105 of the Constitution individuals running for presidency must have been released from penitentiary three years prior for any found offense; that carries a duration of more than one year.
Azima Shukoor in her speech had also stressed on why she believed the former president was ineligible for the top-government office when she said that candidates who lost during their run for presidency conventionally never run again; but instead steps down from office and allows other viable candidates the option.
She was referring to the recent comments Nasheed dropped about him taking part in Maldives Democratic Party's (MDP) primary.
The legal affairs minister was all praises to incumbent head of state Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who according to her anecdote had worked diligently during the attempted uprising on February 1 by opposition's scheming.
