Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla has barred MPs from talking about the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) membership fraud on the People's Majlis floor.
He declared this after interrupting Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad while debating the report of the Independent Institutions Committee on the appointment of the Elections Commission (EC) President and Vice President.
Abdul Raheem said the People's Majlis debate is not a political party session and that he wants all MPs only to discuss the committee report.
"We cannot talk about the PNC membership campaign here. This is not a party meeting. This is the People's Majlis," he said.
During the debate, Ziyad expressed concern as hundreds of people, including himself, had been registered as members of the PNC without their consent or knowledge.
He accused the EC of remaining silent on the matter because the government controls the People's Majlis.
He further said the police were not investigating the matter and that the person in charge of the fake forms scandal was also in charge of the police institution.
"Ministers and MPs worked very hard to recruit people to the party by travelling to islands. They recruited a lot of people. However, the minister used a shortcut because he had the power and authority," Ziyad said referring to Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats have submitted the matter to the police and the EC. But authorities have not provided an update on the case.
