Jailed former president and deposed ruling party president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's daughter Yumna Maumoon has asked the country's Civil Court to issue a stay order on the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) two day congress slated to begin on Friday.
The Civil Court in 2016 found Gayoom guilty of violating the constitution, party charter and the political party law and handed-over party control to half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Yumna in her lawsuit filed Thursday argued that the party's council had handed over the party's reins to president Yameen in the capacity of the chief advisor -- a default post offered to the party's successful presidential candidate in violation of the court verdict and party charter.
She also said if the court overturns the decision of the council, any decisions made by the party's upcoming congress would be void which would mean the party along with its members would suffer irrecoverable loss.
The party's last congress was held in 2013 to elect Gayoom as the party president. Gayoom however was unceremoniously ousted from the party after falling-out with his half brother Yameen and has since been jailed over the alleged plot to overthrow the government in February.
PPM had scheduled the congress following after its presidential candidate and incumbent Yameen suffered a heavy defeat in Sunday's presidential elections.
