All of the rooms designated for committee meetings in parliament have been locked up.
Parliament remains deadlocked amid a dispute between the speaker and MPs. The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been trying to move a no-confidence motion to remove the speaker.
The departure of 13 MPs from the MDP required a reconstitution of committees after a change in representation of political parties. A solution has not been found so far through talks between the parties.
Videos and photos shared by an MP with Adhadhu today show that all the rooms designated for committees in the parliament building have been locked with MPs unable to enter.
Parliament's standing orders state that control of the building or compound is under the speaker's authority.
An impeachment motion against speaker Mohamed Nasheed, who is also the MDP's president, has been filed with the signature of 54 MPs.
Nasheed has refused to preside over sittings until a decision is made on the motion.
Despite stepping aside from presiding over sittings, Nasheed said in a letter sent to MPs that he would continue to "oversee all matters in the operation of parliament" to the extent allowed by the rules. The locking of committee rooms is therefore expected to have been done through his powers.
Section 130(b) of the rules specify the circumstances for the removal of an MP assigned to a standing committee. One circumstance is the expulsion of the MP from his or her political party. In such a circumstances, the political party has the authority to replace the MP, according to section 130(c).
The parliament has 17 standing committees, including three committees related to parliamentary functions and 14 committees related to state institutions. The MDP controls a majority on all the committees. Parliament remains deadlocked over the failure to reach an agreement on the composition of the committees.
