Aslam: Nasheed sending threatening texts seeking to block no-confidence motion

MDP’s top lawmaker Mohamed Aslam says that Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been sending “threatening” text messages, asking MPs from the party not to submit the no-confidence motion against him.

MDP’s parliamentary group had voted in favor of re-submitting a no-confidence motion against Nasheed earlier Sunday.

The former president had responded that it would be “difficult” to process another no-confidence motion against him during the current session.

Aslam, who represents the North Hithadhoo constituency, told Sun on Sunday night that Nasheed has sent “threatening” text messages to multiple lawmakers.

He said that there is no legal obstacle to submitting a no-confidence motion against Nasheed.

Making excuses to block things he does not want to do is his greatest problem, said Aslam, adding that it was also the root cause for the lack of confidence in him.

“He has sent threatening messages to multiple people now. He has begun sending threatening messages to a lot of MPs,” he said.

Aslam said that Nasheed has the right to request against the submission of a no-confidence motion against him, but cannot refuse to process the motion.

“The speaker must be well aware of the Parliament’s standing orders. There is no provision in the standing orders that says it cannot be done. But Speaker Nasheed is trying to say that he cannot do it, and asking not to do it,” he said.

Hassan Latheef, the interim chairperson of the Democrats – to which Nasheed belongs – said that he has complete confidence Nasheed would not send threatening messages.

“There’s one thing I am sure of; he would not send any threats. And especially not to a parliamentarian,” said Hassan, who represents the West Henveiru constituency.

Hassan said that it was important to determine whether the alleged messages constituted as threats.

“I have not received any such message,” he said.

The MDP had originally submitted no-confidence motions against both Nasheed and Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla earlier this year. The motion against Eva was submitted with the endorsement on 50 MPs in May, and the motion against Nasheed followed, with the endorsement of 54 MPs, in June.

But the MDP withdrew the motions in September, while the party was engaged in negotiations with the Democrats – the party to which both Nasheed and Eva belong – for the presidential runoff election.

In a parliamentary group meeting earlier Sunday, the MDP decided to re-submit the no-confidence motion against Nasheed.

According to Aslam, the decision was made with the unanimous consensus of the MPs who attended the meeting.