Afeef faces committee probe for alleged infringement of MPs' privileges

The Privileges and Ethics Committee has presented a case against the Vilufushi MP, Hassan Afeef, who presided over todays sitting, on the agenda for allegedly violating the privileges of other MPs.

The matter was scheduled for 12:00 noon today.

MDP decided to proceed with the case against Afeef because he allegedly tried to obstruct voting on the motion of no confidence against the Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed, which was signed by 49 MDP MPs.

The Democrats, the minority party in Parliament, filed a systemic motion saying the impeachment motion against Nasheed was not a resolution.

As the sitting began, Democrats' Minority Leader and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim said the resolution presented to Parliament was illegal. Therefore, Azim repeatedly said that he would not allow the no-confidence motion to proceed.

Afeef accepted the point and adjourned the sitting after asking the resolution to be resubmitted.

The Privileges and Ethics Committee of the Parliament is chaired by Makunudhoo MP Mohamed Raai.