MDP leader Mohamed Aslam has said that the issue of stalled parliament is a critical issue and therefore the relevant court will have to resolve the issue quickly.

“It is unlikely that the matter will be dragged on,” Aslam said.

Addressing a press conference at the Parliament House today, Aslam said that the reason why the matter is unlikely to be dragged on is because it is not only an important issue but because it is also a constitutional issue.

One power of the state is coming to a standstill. Therefore, the disruption of one power would hamper the functioning of the state as a whole. Then there is the court that has the jurisdiction to deal with such cases. So, they are also confident that they will look into the issue and decide the matter as soon as possible.

Aslam said.

MDP has moved the Supreme Court to remove Nasheed from the chair, and the Supreme Court has accepted MDP’s constitutional petition seeking to declare that the last Parliament session was held illegally and that no other  parliament sitting could be held without a decision on the no-confidence motion put forward by the ruling MDP.

While the no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the Parliament was scheduled for yesterday, MDP members protested against the parliament office’s decision to conclude the session for the day, damaging the belongings of the administrative staff

With Deputy Speaker Eva Abdhulla going for leave, Parliament minority party, Democrats say the speaker can’t preside over a no-confidence motion against the speaker. As per the rules of the House, the no-confidence motion against the Speaker of the House has to be taken up in a sitting chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House.

In its constitutional petition to the Supreme Court, MDP has sought that the court decide on two things.

First, in cases where the Deputy Speaker of the House is unable to proceed with the issue of removal of the Speaker, it should be declared that the session can be held in accordance with Article 44 of the Rules of Parliament.

Article 44A of the Rules of Parliament provides that in cases where the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are unable to preside, there are five members of the House to preside. Meetings should be allowed to be chaired on the basis of their seniority.

MDP’s second appeal to the Supreme Court is to ensure that the Speaker cannot attend any other business of the house unless a decision is taken in the no-confidence motion.