Images which show Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan supervising the preparation of fake forms to increase the membership of the ruling party have been leaked on the social media platform X.
The leaked photos show Ihusaan in the room while the ministry employees filled out membership forms for the People's National Congress (PNC). Deputy Minister Ahmed Ali, who is in charge of the Department of National Registration (DNR), was also present.
The photos also show a large number of membership forms while ministry employees were cropping passport-size photos to paste on the forms. Similar photos circulated on social media earlier show this work being done in the ministry.
When questioned about the matter, Ihusan denied the photos taken inside the ministry. Upon further inquiry, he said it was the Velana building, which houses several government ministries, but not the Home Ministry floor.
"I went there on a day when political employees were working. It was not during official office hours," Ihusaan said.
When asked whether the personal data from DNR was accessed to fill out the forms, Ihusaan said DNR data cannot be accessed now. But he noted that information from the DNR database had been leaked previously. Ihusaan did not deny that they used information from the DNR database for the PNC membership forms.
The PNC yesterday admitted that forms with forged signatures, fake fingerprints and stolen personal data and photos had been submitted to the Elections Commission (EC) amid growing complaints of membership fraud.
Some such cases have been reported to the police and the EC is also investigating the matter.
Maafannu Central MP Asma Rasheed earlier said that the fake forms were filled in the PNC campaign hall and that she knows who was behind it.
The issue intensified this week after it was revealed that MP Hussain Ziyad (Fitte) from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was also registered as a member of the PNC.
Meanwhile, Galolhu South MP Mikaeel Naseem has requested to summon and question Ihusaan.
According to Section 49 of the Political Parties Act, a person who submits a fake form for political party membership will be fined an amount between MVR 5000 and MVR 10,000.
