The ad hoc committee formed to screen the names proposed to the Election Commission to be established under the new constitution ratified on the 7 of this month, has decided not to accept the nominations of Adhaalath Party (AP) and People’s Party as the nominations do not qualify.
The 2 nominations rejected by the committee are Ahmed Sameer of Asareehandhu proposed by AP and Abdulla Nashid of Male’ Municipality Special Register proposed by People’s Party (PP).The commission reached the decision that nomination of both parties do not satisfy the requirements as the names have been included in the 3000 names submitted by Poverty Elimination Party which is undergoing registration formalities. Despite the rejection of the nominations, the Majlis ad hoc committee had agreed to provide the further opportunity to the parties to submit nominations to the Majlis. However the committee also informed that the committee should receive the nominations directly from the Majlis floor.
The letter sent by the Election Commissioner on the subject of the names proposed by Adhaalath Party and People’s Party states that although in principle names submitted for the purposes of registering a political party are not allowed to be omitted from the list, the names of Sameer and Nashid may be removed from the list. However members objected to the Election Commissioner’s letter stating that what is said in it is against the constitution.
At the committee meeting held yesterday members argued over the Jumhoory Party’s (JP) late nomination. Despite initial disagreements by members, committee finally agreed to proceed and complete work as assigned and include JP’s nomination.
While the deadline for the submission of nominations for the Interim Election Commission was the 19 th of August, JP submitted the party’s nomination on the 25 th of this month. When the nomination of JP, which held its first National Conference on the 22 of this month, was accepted by Speaker some members expressed their dissatisfaction. Some member expressed that if JP’s nomination can be accepted despite the lapse of deadline, then the same opportunity should be provided to People’s Alliance (PA).
At the ad hoc committee meeting held yesterday, a decision was reached on the JP’s nomination. The committee on reaching a decision gave consideration to the letter sent by Election Commissioner’s office. The letter of the Election Commissioner further noted that members of the Interim Election Commission to be established during the transitional phase are to be from registered political parties, which has held elections to elect officials to key party positions.
Article 276 of the new constitution ratified on the seventh of this month says the “for the purposes of this chapter, a political party is defined as a party that is registered and has held elections and have appointed officials to the key positions of the party”.
Leader of AP Sheikh Hussain Rasheed speaking at a general meeting of the party held yesterday said that Sameer never had membership of a party other AP, and that his name was proposed as free and independent person after removing him from the party’s register. Sheikh accused Party Eliminating Poverty of trying to mislead the Election Commission. At the general meeting held yesterday night Sameer also confirmed that he had never applied for membership of another party other than AP.
AP in a press statement issued stated that the inclusion of Ahmed Sameer’s name in the list provided by Party Eliminating Poverty of Red Wave Saleem, is without the prior knowledge and consent of Sameer. AP also said the matter has been raised to the Election Commissioner’s Office sometime yesterday.
AP further informed that it has decided to take the matter to the courts and called on the Election Commissioner to exercise more care when screening names. The party also said that it will check to seek if the office of the commissioner is in any way involved in the matter.
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